Couple killed in Glenrothes crash 'went flying into the air', court told

A police officer has told a court of the “tragic and traumatic” moment he saw a car mount a pavement and strike a couple who went “flying into the air”.

Grandparents Harry and Shirley Taggerty were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on the A911 in Glenrothes, Fife, on July 13, 2019.

PC Joseph Archer, 57, was driving a van with a colleague when he noticed a car on the opposite side of the road “veer” onto his carriageway.

Liam McWatt, of Glenrothes, denies the charge of causing the deaths by driving dangerously.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard evidence about how the pair fell down an embankment at the side of the road. Police officers found the car which struck them lying overturned nearby.

Giving evidence via video link, PC Archer told prosecution lawyer Alan Cameron: “I could see the car away up ahead of us starting to veer into our carriage way.

“I could see the car was moving quite fast. It came right up on a pavement. It knocked down two pedestrians who were walking up that pavement.

“The pedestrians went flying into the air into a tree bush area and the car went into the air and flipped over.”

PC Archer said that he went to the Taggertys to assess their condition.

“I found no signs of life,” he told the court.

The officer told the court that an off duty paramedic had come to assist and he asked him for help.

PC Archer told the court that he then went over to the overturned car and found a man inside “sitting on the roof”.

The police officer told the court: “I asked him his name. He said his name was Liam. I asked him if he was in the car himself. He said he was.

“He was speaking fine to me. He maybe had a mark on his cheek.

“He said he was going on holiday and he was asking where his phone was.”

PC Archer said he later helped McWatt up a path to an ambulance which was called for him and was waiting on the road side.

He said the incident was “very tragic and very traumatic”.

The jury also heard that McWatt provided a “negative” breath specimen at 11.05am on July 13, 2019, and that “no defects were found” on his vehicle which “could cause or contribute” to the collision.

The Crown claims that he drove while using a mobile phone, drove at excessive speed and entered the opposing carriageway while it was “unsafe to do.”

The trial, before judge Lord Scott, continues.