Lorry driver who killed heavily pregnant nurse in motorway crash jailed

A lorry driver who killed a heavily pregnant nurse in a motorway crash has been jailed.

Trevor Norgate, 58, has been given a two-year and eight-month sentence for his actions on December 18, 2023.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Norgate was behind the wheel of his HGV when it drifted onto the hard shoulder where Evelyn Brown, 41, had stopped in her Kia Sorento.

The court heard how footage of the smash on the M8 westbound near Hermiston Gait in Edinburgh was captured on Norgate’s dash cam.

Evelyn – known as Eve – passed away from her injuries. She was 34 weeks pregnant at the time, and her unborn baby tragically did not survive either.

Prosecutors stated Norgate, of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, had “allowed himself to become distracted” prior to the collision, although it is not known how.

He appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow last month and pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Lord Armstrong deferred sentence for reports on Norgate’s background after hearing how the accused already had six points on his licence. He was given them for using a mobile phone while driving.

On Friday, Norgate appeared for sentencing in Edinburgh. Defence advocate David Nicolson KC told Lord Armstrong about how his client was “utterly devastated” about the loss of Evelyn’s life.

Mr Nicolson said Norgate had spent time thinking in the past few months about how he caused the fatal collision.

However, Lord Armstrong told Norgate that he needed to go to prison for his crimes.

Speaking about the grief that Evelyn’s family have experienced, Lord Armstrong said: “No sentence that I can impose can in any sense be a measure of the value of the lives that have been lost nor provide a comfort to the family whose lives have been devastated.

“Their lives have been radically changed for the worse.”

At earlier proceedings, prosecutor Jennifer Cameron told how Evelyn was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK in 2015.

She already had two young children at the time of the crash.

Evelyn worked as an agency nurse for a company called Medline.

She had not long finished a 12-hour shift at East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington when tragedy struck that morning.

Ms Cameron said the mum had texted her sister to say she was on her way home.

Norgate, in the meantime, was driving his haulage firm HGV, having started work at 4am that day.

He had “complied with rest requirements” while behind the wheel of his lorry.

The court went on to be shown harrowing footage of the collision.

Evelyn’s car had been stationary on the hard shoulder at the time with its lights on.

Ms Cameron said: “The HGV began to veer from the lane onto the hard shoulder.

“The vehicle drifted over a period of between seven to eight seconds with no corrective action being taken or braking to alter the course of travel.

“The lorry travelled on the hard shoulder for approximately 88.5 metres until the point of impact with the rear of Evelyn Brown’s vehicle.

“It is noted there is no sound or exclamation within the cab (of the lorry) immediately before impact confirming Norgate, at that time, did not have his eyes on the road.”

The advocate depute added Norgate “ought to have seen” the Kia on the hard shoulder.

Norgate immediately got out and dialled 999. A passing doctor stopped to give an unresponsive Evelyn first aid.

Fire crews then arrived to get her out of the wrecked car.

Paramedics tried valiantly to help at the scene, but Evelyn never recovered.

She had suffered fatal neck and chest injuries. Evelyn’s unborn baby also did not survive.

Norgate went on to make a number of comments to police including he had “moved in his lane” for “something in the road”.

But, Ms Cameron said there was “no evidence to substantiate” this claim.

She added, instead, the dash cam footage showed “a slow, continuous motion” on the hard shoulder that morning with “no signs of driver interaction”.

Evelyn, also of Bellshill, lived with her mother at the time.

She also had a lifelong friend who had moved from Nigeria to be with the nurse.

Evelyn’s two children now stay with their father, but return to visit their grandmother on a weekly basis.

Ms Cameron: “The family have felt the loss keenly. Ms Brown’s mother has been extremely distressed since and has not felt able to attend court.

“The children, on family visits, often ask when their mum is going to come home from work.”

On Friday, Mr Nicolson told the court that his client was a first offender who was sorry for his actions.

He said: “He remains mystified as to what caused the collision.

“He has given the matter some thought – he thinks there may have been a noise and this caused him to be distracted for the eight seconds in the lead up to the incident.

“He has always been determined to resolve the matter – he indicated from the earliest stage that he wished to resolve the matter with a plea of guilty

“He is utterly devastated about what has happened.

“He’s a broken man. His words to me this morning were that he hoped Ms Brown’s family would find some peace going forward.

“He is someone who will never get over what has happened. He has had a month in Barlinnie and he’s stressed and he’s frightened.”

Lord Armstrong also banned Norgate from driving for four years and eight months.

He said the total sentence reflected Norgate’s plea of guilty and his actions in the aftermath of the collision.