Man caught on camera driving then reversing over woman crossing road

A pensioner caught on camera driving into a woman crossing the road killing her has been given a 300-hour community pay back order.

John Whiteside knocked down Linda Gallacher near his home in Glasgow’s Sandyhills on March 10, 2020.

The 80-year-old told a witness: “She came out of nowhere.”

But collision investigators concluded the OAP either “failed to observe or react” to the 60-year-old.

Whiteside – who uses as a walking frame as an aid – appeared in the dock at the High Court in Livingston on Thursday.

He had been due to stand trial accused of causing Ms Gallacher’s death by dangerous driving but he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of causing the death by careless driving.

The court previously heard how Whiteside had been driving his Nissan Qashqai that day.

He turned left into Culrain Street in the city’s east end as Ms Gallacher stepped onto the road.

She had her back to the car as it approached.

Prosecutor Scott McKenzie said Ms Gallacher was then struck from behind just over three seconds after she walked onto the road.

Whiteside came to a halt as a woman nearby yelled at him to stop.

Mr McKenzie: “She believed Linda Gallacher was now under the car, so told Whiteside to reverse.

“The car moved momentarily backwards following the heavy braking to stop the vehicle.

“It was again driven on top of Linda Gallacher as she lay on the ground.

“When Whiteside brought the car to a halt, the front driver side wheel was on top of her. He reversed his car clear and parked.”

Footage of the incident was played in court. Whiteside became emotional as it shown.

The hearing was told Whiteside was described as looking “shocked” after getting out of his Nissan that day.

Ms Gallacher was found to be unconscious and bleeding.

She never recovered having sustained multiple and significant injuries to her head, torso and limbs.

It was later concluded that the collision had been “avoidable”.

Lord Mulholland was handed victim impact statements by Ms Gallacher’s grieving mother and sister. None of the details were read in court.

Defence lawyer Mr McSporran said: “For three years and nine months, John Whiteside has lived with the knowledge that he is responsible for a death by his driving.”

The KC added the OAP “simply cannot explain how it happened”.

Mr McSporran: “He is not able to assist other than knowing he was alerted by a neighbour.”

Whiteside was said to be in “a panic” when he ended up driving over Ms Gallacher rather than it being deliberate.

Lord Mulholland sentenced Whiteside to a 300-hour community pay back order.

Local MSP John Mason said: “I note that Linda Gallacher’s death was found not to be deliberate but it is still tragic. Our thoughts are certainly with her family, neighbours, and friends. The sentence might appear to be light given the serious consequences. However, I accept that the lack of malicious intent will have been a factor in the court’s thinking.

“What it does raise in my mind is whether there should be more regular testing or checking of all of us as drivers as we get older. I myself am 67 and passed my test nearly 50 years ago. My father kept driving beyond when he probably should have. So I know it can be very difficult to give up driving and the independence that comes with it. However, cases like this do suggest we should reconsider more regular driving tests.”