Student who fell asleep at wheel jailed over fatal crash

A student who fell asleep at the wheel and killed a man after partying the night before has been jailed for three years.

Alisdair Grant caused a head-on collision with Gerry Lewis in East Ayrshire in March 2014.

The 21-year-old had recently served a ban for drink driving at the time of the fatal crash.

Grant was yesterday sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow. He had pled guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

His lawyer asked for him not to be jailed stating testimonials had described Grant as a “role model”.

But Lord Boyd ruled that out as he told Grant “a life had been taken” by what he had done that day.

The judge added he had displayed “a cavalier attitude” having recently been convicted of drink driving when he got behind the wheel.

The collision happened on the A719 near the Ayrshire village of Waterside.

Grant, of Kilmarnock, who had been banned for a year in December 2012 for drink driving, drove his brother’s Fiat Punto despite feeling the effects of socialising the previous evening.

Prosecutor Mark Mcguire told the court: “Text messages recovered from his mobile phone sent that day indicate he had been partying heavily the night before.

“Around two hours before the collision – in response to someone asking if he was fit to drive – he replied he thought he would be soon.

“The texts made it clear that Grant was tired.”

Mr Lewis was driving his Suzuki 4x4 in the opposite direction.

The 54-year-old was with his wife Sarah to see his widowed mother in Glasgow.

The hearing was told as the two vehicles approached, Grant’s Fiat drifted “without warning” into the path of Mr Lewis’s car.

The advocate depute said: “From what Mrs Lewis could see, there was no attempt to brake by Grant. He had fallen asleep at the wheel.”

Mr Lewis, a conservationist with North Lanarkshire Council for 20 years, died due to chest and abdominal injuries. The court heard his loss has been “profound” for Mrs Lewis. Mr Mcguire said: “Gerry Lewis was a much loved husband and family man. His wife and wider family miss him dearly.”

Grant’s lawyer said the student still suffered “nightmares” after what happened.

Brian Gilfedder, defending, said Grant had been a voluntary sports coach teaching children before the crash.

Mr Gilfedder said he had been highly regarded with one reference claiming Grant was “responsible” and a “very good role model”.