Woman killed by swerving car, court case told

AN AMERICAN woman who planned to retire to Scotland died after her car collided with a vehicle which had “swerved” on to her “side” of the road, a court has heard.

Colette Ralph, 48, told a jury how her friend Barbara D’Amato was planning on leaving her job in Switzerland for a new life in the Scottish countryside.

However, the High Court in Edinburgh heard that on January 16, 2014, Mrs D’Amato lost her life after being involved in a crash on the A702 road near to Elvanfoot, South Lanarkshire.

Mrs Ralph, of Geneva, Switzerland, was a passenger in the car being driven by Mrs D’Amato, who was married to an Italian citizen.

Prosecutors claim Mrs D’Amato’s vehicle was struck by a car which was being driven dangerously by Jordan Kenvyn.

She told prosecution lawyer Tim Niven Smith that the incident was over in a matter of “seconds”.

Mrs Ralph said the car swerved on to their side of the carriageway and struck their vehicle.

She added: “It all happened so quickly. It was over in seconds.

“There was a very loud bang and a violent jolt and the airbag was obviously in my face.

“It took me a few seconds to register what happened.”

Mrs Ralph was giving evidence on the second day of proceedings against 26-yearold Jordan Kenvyn, of Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway.

Mr Kenvyn denies causing the death of Mrs D’Amato in at a stretch of the road known as the Dalveen Pass, by driving dangerously.

The trial, before judge Lady Scott, continues.