Death-crash van driver jailed after horror collision
‘Rolled and went airborne’
A VAN driver who killed a motorist after he crashed into his victim’s vehicle, sending it through the air before it landed on a car, has been jailed for ten months.
Transit flatbed driver Steven Hall was also banned from the road for a year after he admitted killing 68-year-old father of two William Barclay.
Hall was jailed yesterday after he admitted driving carelessly and crashing into Mr Barclay, despite having almost ten seconds’ clear view of him on the road.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that Hall failed to spot Mr Barclay’s van approaching as the accused pulled out of a junction.
Hall, 59, of Glenrothes, Fife, admitted causing the death of Mr Barclay, of Brechin, Angus, by driving carelessly on the A94 Coupar Angus to Forfar road on February 15 last year, close to where he worked for Scot-Steel Buildings.
Fiscal depute John Adams said the victim was driving his Renault Kangoo van within the speed limit – at between 55 and 57mph – and was blameless for the accident.
Mr Adams said Hall had somehow failed to spot the Mackie Motors van.
He said a witness, Marie Law, was driving her VW Polo in the opposite direction and saw Hall pull out of the junction and strike the side of Mr Barclay’s van.
He added: ‘The accused struck the offside of the deceased’s vehicle, causing it to go broadside on the road, before it rolled and went airborne, somersaulting at least once and coming to rest on top of Miss Law’s vehicle.
‘The van roof was compacted towards the floor, trapping the deceased upside down in the driver’s seat. Miss Law got out of her passenger door and rang the emergency services.
‘The fire service cut the door and it was immediately apparent he was dead.’
Mr Adams told the court the accused and Miss Law tested negative for alcohol and there were no defects on the vehicles. He added: ‘The accident report concluded that it was the result of a failure by the accused to give way at a crossroads junction.
‘No blame can be attributed to the drivers of the Kangoo van or the Polo car.’
Counsel Barry Smith, for Hall, said: ‘He is most anxious that I should express his severe regret that this accident caused such tragic consequences.’
The court was told that Mr Barclay was a retired painter who had continued to work part-time as a driver.
Mr Barclay’s widow, Anne, said: ‘It happened and there is nothing we can do about it. He is such a big loss.’
Her husband was well-known in his home town for his involvement in local football.
He is survived by his wife, son Kevin, daughter Jacqueline and two grandsons.