Pensioner who killed woman in crash jailed for five years

A pensioner who killed a woman in a head-on crash has been jailed for five years.

William Greenfield was in his Ford Transit van when he struck a Volvo driven by Angela Hardy.

The 68-year-old was behind the wheel having earlier failed to alert the DVLA about his epilepsy.

The crash occurred after his “intimidating” driving saw him overtake another vehicle before causing the death on Hogmanay 2018.

Mum Angela, also 68, never survived the smash on the A721 near Carstairs, Lanarkshire.

First offender Greenfield was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

The retired labourer, of Forth, Lanarkshire, had previously been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

Lord Armstrong told him: “No sentence is a measure of the value of the life has been lost.

“The manner of your driving constituted a substantial risk of danger to others on the road.

“Immediately prior to this, you were driving aggressively in an impatient and intimidating manner.”

Greenfield was also banned from the road for eight years.

A trial was previously told how the pensioner suffered from epilepsy and had failed to inform the DVLA on four separate occasions – dating back to 2002 – about his condition.

In his closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Chris Fyffe told the court: “He said he was told by his consultant there was no need to tell the DVLA due to his level of medication.

“He told his doctor [after the crash] that he did not suffer a seizure or felt like he had.

“There was no medical diagnosis of a seizure…or that he was unwell.”

The court heard how Greenfield had overtaken two vehicles in his van shortly before the December 31 crash.

He then went on to tailgate a woman in her car.

Mr Fyffe told jurors: “He was so close to the bumper that she could only see his bonnet.

“She believed Greenfield was going overtake her.

“Ms Hardy had the misfortune to be travelling in the opposite direction.

“Witnesses heard a noise and Greenfield spun off to a grass verge before rolling down an embankment.

“Ms Hardy’s car ended up on the roof, she was suspended by her seatbelt and was fatally injured.

Greenfield – who suffered a head injury – was able to free himself from the van.

He told police that he could not remember what happened.

Bob Mitchell, defending, said a “remorseful” Greenfield had not driven since the crash.