Police ScotlandA lorry driver who had taken cocaine killed a man as he crossed the road.
Edward Feelie failed to stop at a red light and knocked down Robert Shirra-Gibb in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, days before Christmas 2023.
The 84-year-old, who had to be freed from under the Isuzu flatbed truck, never recovered from the collision.
Feelie was later found to have six times the “specified limit” of cocaine in his bloodstream.
The 54-year-old appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
It emerged that Feelie, also of Blantyre, already had two road traffic convictions.
He was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.
The incident occurred at around 6pm on December 19, 2023.
Another driver had spotted Mr Shirra-Gibb crossing the town’s Glasgow Road that evening.
“Mr Shirra-Gibb made it across the eastbound carriageway,” said Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel.
“However, on entering the westbound, he was struck by Feelie’s vehicle.
“He appeared to fail to slow or react to a red light as well as the presence of Mr Shirra-Gibb upon crossing.”
The father-of-two was propelled forward before being trapped under the lorry.
Dashcam footage of the incident was played at the hearing.
Relatives of Mr Shirra-Gibb left the courtroom while it was shown.
Ms Dalziel said Feelie, who had been working as a traffic management operative, immediately got out, appearing “shocked and agitated”.
However, he initially seemed unaware of the injured Mr Shirra-Gibb being helped by others.
Emergency crews arrived and Mr Shirra-Gibb was taken to the hospital.
The court heard he had suffered “catastrophic” pelvic, chest and back injuries.
He also had a bleed on the brain and died the next day.
Crash investigators found the red traffic signal that night had been showing for 11 seconds before the collision.
Mr Shirra-Gibb had been on the road for around seven seconds.
Ms Dalziel said Feelie’s lorry “did not deviate until the moment of impact”.
A blood sample was taken from Feelie at a police station after the incident.
It was found to contain 67mg of cocaine per litre of blood. The specified limit is 10mg.
Marco Guarino, defending, said Feelie recognised the impact on Mr Shirra-Gibb’s family, but that he was also “very severely affected” by what happened.
The solicitor-advocate had asked for Feelie’s bail to be continued.
But, Judge Lord Arthurson remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing until May 27 in Edinburgh.
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