Man said he was a 'stupid idiot' after killing woman in crash

A speeding driver who said he was a “stupid idiot” after he killed a mother and seriously injured her friend in a crash has been jailed.

Jordan Roddie, 26, lost control of his Ford Focus before ploughing head on into a Vauxhall Zafira on the A73 near Braidwood, Lanarkshire on March 3 2020.

Eileen Thomson, 66, was a passenger in the Ford Focus, which was being driven by 48-year-old Catherine Donnelly.

Both women were employed to take children to and from school and had just dropped the last pupil home when the crash occurred.

Mother-of-two Eileen died at the scene while Catherine now requires a wheelchair.

On Tuesday, Roddie was sentenced to four years in jail at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier admitted to causing the death of Eileen and seriously injuring Catherine due to dangerous driving.

Lord Burns cut the jail term from six years due to the guilty plea.

The judge told Roddie: “Your driving caused the death of Eileen Thomson devastating her family and you also caused bad injuries to Catherine Donnelly, which she will have to deal with for the rest of her life.”

Delivery worker Roddie was also banned from the road for the next ten years.

The court heard how the limit on the stretch of road was 60mph but one motorist stated Roddie “must have been going over 70mph at least”.

A retired police officer who was also driving on the A73 clocked the back of Roddie’s Ford “moving uncontrollably” from side to side.

Prosecutor Chris Macintosh told the hearing: “In his mirror, he observed the Focus fail to negotiate a bend in the road, continue straight on and into the opposing lane where it struck another vehicle head on.”

Catherine tried to dodge Roddie’s vehicle, but later said it had been going “too fast” to avoid.

The women ended up trapped in the Vauxhall. Emergency crews freed them, but, despite efforts to save Eileen, she died at the scene.

She had suffered fatal chest and abdominal injuries.

Catherine required major surgery in hospital following the crash, having suffered multiple fractures to her legs, arms and ribs.

She was in hospital for 15 weeks before spending another five at a rehab unit.

Mr Macintosh said: “She requires walking sticks or, if going out, a wheelchair.

“She is still taking medication for pain and has had to have her home adapted.

“She receives help from carers, been unable to work and now relies on state benefits.”

Eileen, who had been married for 46 years, was a school taxi escort for South Lanarkshire Council while Catherine was employed by a local cab firm to ferry pupils.

Roddie, of Carluke, Lanarkshire, was spoken to by police after the smash.

He admitted: “I know I cannot take that corner at more than 50. I have been a f*****g stupid idiot.”

Janice Green, defending, said: “His remorse is genuine and is not a cynical attempt for sympathy.”