Glenrothes lorry driver admits his inattention killed two outside Kirkcaldy.

Police found no evidence that driver braked

A lorry driver has admitted his carelessness killed a woman and a young boy in a collision in Fife.

Donald Maguire was not paying proper attention to the road and ploughed into the back of a Ford Focus on the A92 near Kirkcaldy last year.

The car driver, 36-year-old Monika Lewandowska-Ritchie and her eight-year-old passenger Bartlomiej Plachta, both died.

Another eight-year-old boy was severely injured.

Maguire, 56, of Waverley Drive, Glenrothes, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday.

He admitted that on April 4 last year on the A92 near the Redhouse roundabout he caused the two deaths by driving his lorry without due care and attention and failing to pay proper attention to the road in front of him.

Depute fiscal John Adams said Maguire told police officers he was driving back to Glenrothes when the accident occurred.

He said the Ford Focus “stopped in front of me and put the flashers on”.

Maguire said there was also car at the side of him and there was nothing he could do to avoid the collision.

However, Mr Adams said police investigations showed no evidence of the lorry braking.

The injured boy required extensive facial surgery and may require further surgery on his lip.

Sheriff Craig McSherry called for reports and Maguire will return to court to be sentenced on January 9. An interim driving ban was imposed. Following the tragedy, the boy’s family said: “Bartek was a much loved and treasured son and brother.”

Ms Lewandowska-Ritchie’s family said: “Monika was a loving wife, mother, sister and daughter who was much loved and will be sadly missed by all who knew and cared for her.”

Monika was a loving wife, mother, sister and daughter who was much loved and will be sadly missed