Driver avoids jail after fatal crash into couple on rural road

A new driver who killed a recently retired man and severely injured his wife just six weeks after passing her test has escaped a jail sentence.

Samantha Goff drove her Mini Cooper into Alan Mcbain while he was walking with wife Dawn on a country road in January last year.

Thenovicedriverlostcontrol of her car as she came round a bend and struck the husband and wife on the unclassified road between South Queensferry and Kirkliston.

Mr Mcbain suffered head, chest and abdominal injuries and died around an hour after being struck while his wife had a broken spine, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. She is now in constant pain and is forced to use a walking stick.

Goff, of South Queensferry, passed her driving test on 14 December 2016 and the accident occurred six weeks later on 30 January 2017.

Goff, 23, admitted causing the death of Mr Mcbain and severe injury to Mrs Mcbain by driving without due care and attention at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month and she returned for sentencing yesterday.

Sheriff Donald Corke told the sales assistant she had robbed Mr Mcbain of “a long and happy retirement” and that his “whole family has been affected” by the collision.

Sheriff Corke sentenced Goff to a 12-month community payback order as a direct alternative to custody consisting of her carrying 200 hours of unpaid work.

Goff is also banned from driving for two years and will have to sit the extended test before she is allowed back on the road.

Previously the court heard Mr Mcbain had retired from his position as a security officer at Edinburgh Airport just four weeks before the accident.

He was out walking with wife Dawn on Standingstane Road, near the village of Dalmeny, and were struck by the oncoming Goff in her blue Mini Cooper at around 11:40am on 30 January last year.

Fiscal Iain Gray said following the impact Goff’s vehicle became “airborne and landed in a field”.

He said it was Goff who had immediately called the emergency services and was said to be in a “hysterical and distressed” state telling the call handler she had “crashed into two people”.

The fiscal added Goff told a witness she “came round the corner and the couple were right there in front of me” and that she had tried to swerve but had struck both of them.

The court also heard the driving conditions that day were described as being “good” with “no visual obstructions”.

Cameron Tait, defending, said his client had showed “genuine and deep remorse”.