HGV driver on video call caused death of elderly woman in head-on crash
Blair Jardine, 31, caused Sarah Wood's death after his truck struck a car being driven by the pensioner's niece.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Friday how the collision took place on the A70 Edinburgh to Ayr road on June 4 last year, close to Ochiltree, East Ayrshire.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC said the incident took place at an unclassified junction at Killoch Collery.
Mr Prentice said the speed limit for HGVs was 40 miles per hour. However, investigators established Jardine was driving at 56 mph.
Describing the moments leading up to the incident, Mr Prentice said: 'Ahead of him was a white van which had stopped and was signalling to turn right into a depot. There was a stationary car behind the van.
'Blair Jardine was on a hands-free video call with another person, and he did not pay attention to the road ahead.
'Consequently, he failed to react to the presence of the stationary vehicle, braked sharply, causing the wheels to lock, and he was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision with the statioary westbound traffic so he swerved into the opposing carriageway causing a head on collision with [the] motor vehicle.
'[Two people] were both severely injured. Sarah Wood later died because of the injuries she sustained.'
Jardine pleaded guilty to causing death and severe injury by dangerous driving.
Mr Prentice said that following the collision, police and fire and rescue personnel rushed to the scene. They cut both Ms Wood and her niece from the wreckage of the younger woman's MG ZS vehicle.
Both were taken to the Queen University Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow for emergency treatment.
The court heard that police detained Jardine at the scene.
Mr Prentice added: 'Blair Jardine identified himself as the driver of the vehicle. Blair Jardine also freely stated to the police officers that he had been using his mobile telephone on speaker at the time of the collision.
'Later enquiry revealed he had been on a video call with another person and that the screens were blank.'
Officers at the scene also saw several locked wheel tyre marks on the road. Mr Prentice said this demonstrated that Jardine 'applied emergency braking' and steered into the opposing lane.
Mr Prentice said friends and family knew Sarah as Sadie and that she was a widow, a mum of two and a retired retail manager.
The advocate depute said doctors treating Sarah found she had 'extensive injury' including fractures to her nose, a rib, a lumbar vertebra and both hands.
The court heard that on June 5, Sarah had surgery and suffered a stroke after she came out of the theatre.
Mr Prentice said that on June 7, she was transferred to the major trauma unit at the hospital but continued to 'deteriorate rapidly' – she later died at 7.15pm on June 10.
Meanwhile, her niece – who was aged 59 at the time of the collision – suffered a head injury, rib, knee, leg and wrist fractures and a broken hip.
Mr Prentice added: 'She has had multiple orthopaedic plastic surgery interventions since then.
'She was discharged on October 15, 2024, having spent four months in hospital following the collision. She is continuing with rehabilitation.'
Defence advocate Emma Toner said she'd reserve her mitigation for a future hearing. She said the court was legally obliged to call for a report into her client's background as he was a first offender.
Ms Toner added: 'He is deeply remorseful.'
The advocate also asked for her client to be given bail.
However, judge Lady Haldane remanded Jardine in custody.
She added: 'The events of June 4, 2024, are evidently a tragedy to all of those who were affected by them.
'The seriousness of these offences is such that a custodial sentence is inevitable.
'The severity of these offences is such that the appropriate way to proceed is to remand you in custody.'
Jardine will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 1, 2025.
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