Killer lorry driver distracted on phone for 18 seconds before smashing into gran
A LORRY driver who ploughed into and killed a missionary worker as he checked his mobile phone for 18 seconds was yesterday jailed for five years.
David Shields, 34, crashed into Yvonne Blackman’s car as it sat in queuing traffic on the A75 in Dumfries in February last year.
The 66- year- old missionary worker never recovered and died weeks later in hospital.
Mrs Blackman’s devastated husband of 38 years, Ralph, yesterday described his wife as ‘bubbly and fun-loving’, adding: ‘She had a long life to live.’
Speaking outside the High Court in Glasgow, he urged drivers never to use their mobile phones while driving.
Mr Blackman, 78, from Lockerbie, and an HGv driver for 40 years himself, said: ‘I hope this sentence deters any drivers from doing the same.
‘They should realise the suffering and hurt it causes to the victim’s family. I was a professional driver for 40 years and I’ve never used my mobile phone. Only a second’s inattention can be dangerous and he had 18 seconds with his eyes off the road.’
Mrs Blackman, a mother of four, had 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Jailing Shields, from Drognan, Ayrshire, judge Lady Stacey told him: ‘I have seen a video of the crash and know you were paying heed to your mobile phone for 18 seconds. It was a very dangerous thing to do.
‘I know you did not intend the catastrophic result, but you should have known the terrible risk you were taking.’
Shields, who served as a lance corporal in the Royal Highland Fusiliers in Iraq and Afghanistan, wept as he was led away to the cells. His defence counsel John Scullion QC earlier said: ‘He has asked me to apologise to Mrs Blackman’s family and is ashamed of his actions that day.’
Damning footage from Shield’s truck shows him focusing on his
dash- mounted phone for a lengthy period in the lead-up to the fatal smash.
Shields – who had a previous conviction for speeding – admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Mrs Blackman was on her way to meet friends to carry out missionary work when tragedy struck.
She was caught in heavy traffic on the A75 Gretna to Stranraer road at around 8.30am on February 8 2017. Shields, who was driving a truck for 911 Rescue Recovery from Stoke to Kilmarnock, ploughed into the back of Mrs Blackman’s Toyota Yaris.
Mrs Blackman died in hospital on February 23 from chest and spinal injuries. Shields told police he only noticed ‘at the last second’ that the ‘traffic was not moving,’ and added: ‘I slammed the brakes on, slid and collided.’
He was also banned yesterday from driving for seven years and six months.