Distracted courier driver ploughed his van into taxi

Woman and child were injured after delivery man’s error

A courier who “switched off” behind the wheel and ploughed head first into a taxi carrying a woman and her three- year- old daughter has been allowed to keep his licence.

Ryan Gillies smashed straight into the car while trying to drive around a corner in Kashmir Avenue, Linwood.

The 28-year-old – who worked as a courier delivering parcels to hospitals throughout the pandemic – became momentarily distracted behind the wheel of his van and hit taxi driver Donald Pearson’s vehicle while he was driving the woman and her daughter – leaving all three of them with whiplash.

The woman also suffered a broken sternum in the collision on November 20 last year.

Gillies, who has no previous offences, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court this week, where it was heard he had been travelling on Kashmir Avenue shortly after leaving his home on Clippens Road around 2pm.

Gillies approached a road with a “slight left hand bend” but failed to turn into the corner correctly.

Procurator fiscal depute Michael Cunningham told the court: “The vehicles began to approach each other on the bend.

“The accused continued to drive in a straight line, causing the vehicle to cross over to the opposite side of the road and collide head on with witnesses vehicle.

“The accused was not looking ahead, appeared to be distracted and appeared to be looking at his lap.

“All parties were taken to hospital.”

Gillies admitted driving a vehicle without due care and attention and without reasonable consideration for other people using the road.

He admitted failing to register a bend in the road, driving onto the opposing carriageway and colliding with another vehicle, causing damage to both vehicles and injuring Donald Pearson, the woman and her child.

Defending Gillies, Terry Gallanagh said he was a first offender who was “distraught” to find himself in court.

He said: “He has never been in trouble before.

“He is a frontline worker who delivers parcels to hospitals and has been one of the hero frontline workers throughout the pandemic.

“He thinks this has happened because it is a road the he drives every day.

“It is very close to his home. “He just thinks he switched off and he is extremely sorry about this.

“He had appropriate insurance and everything has been taken care of but he wishes to express to those involved that he is truly sorry.”

Sheriff Hugh McGinty told Gillies that by driving a large delivery van he has an “added responsibilty” to drive safely.

He added: “Those involved don’t exactly see you as a hero at the moment.

“You are familiar with the road and you were momentarily distracted, which resulted in a collision with quite serious consequences.

“What I have to deal with here is a relativity short period of distraction but it was while you were in control of a large van which adds an extra degree of responsibility.

“You will now have the maximum points on your licence so if you get any further points you will be disqualified.

Gillies was fined £540 and six penalty points were added to his licence.