By Jon Brady[1] and Oliver Price[2] Published: 18:17, 29 March 2024 | Updated: 19:46, 29 March 2024
Travellers making the most of the Easter weekend[3] are stuck in ‘horrendous’ 20-mile long queues on major motorways – …
Britons have been warned of long delays on their Easter getaways with more than 14 million journeys expected on the roads, airports prepared for a record number of passengers, and engineering works on key rail services.
The RAC warned that journeys on …
A passenger train without any seats recently called at Liverpool Street. It’s not a trial of a new standing-only train, but a way of delivering cargo freight into city centres.
Inside the gutted train (c) ianVisits
Delivering freight into towns by rai…
Traffic Scotland has advised football fans to ‘plan ahead’ as delays are expected on the M8, M77, and M74 motorways.
The road firm says delays are also expected on local routes leading to and from the stadium.
The match is set to take place at Hampden …
Emergency services rushed to a crash[1] on Glasgow’s M77 this morning.
The incident, involving two vehicles happened at around 9.45am on Saturday (March 23) in the south side[2] of the city between between Silverburn and Bellahouston. Police and ambula…
The parents of Emma Burke Newman, a cyclist killed after being hit and dragged for over 50 metres by a lorry driver in Glasgow, have encouraged more people to ride bikes as part of a “virtuous cycle” to make the roads safer, amid a broader call for saf…
A fundraiser for the “devastated“ families of two teenage boys killed in a crash with a lorry in Stirling has raised more than £19,000.
Kyle Marshall, 19, and Jayden McConnell, 17, were rear seat passengers of a black Vauxhall Corsa which collided with…
A LORRY driver who killed a French cyclist after running her over at a set of traffic lights avoided jail today.
Paul Mowat, 69, struck Emma Burke Newman[1], 22, in Glasgow city centre on January 27 2023.
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Lorry driver Paul Mowat struck Emma Burke Newman in Glasgow city centre last yearCredit: Spindrift
3
Emma was described as a “wonderful young woman” at today’s sentencing
3
Her parents called on the Scottish government for greater protection for cyclists
Mowat turned at the lights and hit Emma who had been on the lane to his left and moved off seconds after him.
Emma was then dragged under the vehicle for approximately 53 metres.
Despite being conscious and breathing at the scene, Emma died from her injuries at hospital[2] around 90 minutes later.
Mowat – who claimed he was unable to see Emma – was later found to have had his view obstructed by a reversing camera, dirty mirrors and windscreen.
Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC stated at today’s sentencing that Emma was a “wonderful young woman.”
He said: “I have read the victim impact statement from Emma’s parents which evokes their loss and despair that they feel at the death of their only child.
“They describe an extraordinary woman who loved of Robert Burns, The Rose and all things Scottish.
“She had a social conscience and felt a responsibility to protect our world and environment.
“There is nothing the court can do to compensate that loss or despair.
Cyclist hit by lorry as busy road near Glasgow locked down
“I am grateful of having the opportunity of learning about her all too short but well lived life.”
The sheriff stated that the offence fell into the level B sentencing guidelines which results in a community payback order being applied.
Sheriff Jackson further cited Mowat’s own health[4] issues and that he is the carer for his wife.
The sheriff added: “I learned today that after leaving his cab, Mr Mowat held Emma’s hand and apologised to her, reassuring her, that help was on its way.
“This is important information learned late in the day and I suspect this is due to Mr Mowat’s reluctance to speak up about this matter.
“Mr Mowat has an exemplary driving record and has shown understanding and empathy.
“He acted with compassion when he held her hand and comforted her.”
Mowat was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for 12 months.
He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.
The court earlier heard that Emma was born in France to American parents who moved there in 1994.
Emma moved from the town of Moulineaux to study art sciences in London and worked for an architecture firm.
She moved to Scotland in September 2022 to study architecture at Glasgow School of Art.
Emma was described as a “keen cyclist, swimmer and enjoyed skiing.”
After her death, Emma’s parents Rose Marie Burke and John Newman called on the Scottish government for greater protection for cyclists.[5]
Both parents have backed Pedal on Parliament “no backpedalling” campaign, which aims to create safer roads for cyclists.
Mowat’s lorry stopped across a line at the lights designed at a safe zone for cyclists at 10am.
CCTV[6] played to court showed Emma stopped her bike in front of Mowat’s lorry having come from the cycle lane to his left.
A double decker bus which also encroached the cycle space line was positioned on the lane to Mowat’s right.
Prosecutor Susan Campbell said: “The lights changed to green and Mowat and the bus moved forward.
“Emma took around one to two seconds longer to move off and looked towards the lorry as she did so.
“During this time, the lorry was moving forward until the near side bumper and the rear wheel of the bike were in close proximity.
“As Mowat turned left towards the Broomielaw, his near side bumper connected with the offside pannier rack of the bike.
“This caused her to be dismounted to the front offside of the lorry.
“Emma was dragged under the offside of the lorry at the first and second axles as the lorry continued for approximately 53 metres.”
Members of the public made Mowat aware of the collision and went to Emma’s aid.
Mowat was stated to have said: “I didn’t see her.”
A paramedic noted that Emma was breathing when he arrived four minutes later but she was unconscious.
Specialised medics attended the scene before Emma was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Miss Campbell said: “Despite efforts of medical personnel, tragically her injuries were unsavable and she was pronounced dead at 11.25am.”
A post-mortem examination was carried out which revealed extensive injuries to Emma’s abdomen, pelvis and both legs.
Her cause of death was determined to be “multiple injuries due to road traffic collision.”
A collision investigation was carried out as well as a re-enactment of the incident by police[7].
The nearside proximity mirror surface was found to be dirty which would have given Mowat an obstructed view.
His view was also deemed to be obstructed by the windscreen in the areas not covered by the wiper.
The collision investigators stated that Emma put her self in a “vulnerable position” due to her close proximity to the lorry.
It was claimed that Emma had other options to negotiate the junction safely.
Miss Campbell added: “It was determined that Mowat failed to react to her presence on the front nearside of the lane as he moved off from a stop as he turned into the Broomielaw.
“Mowat failed to make sure that the close proximity mirrors were clean and had an obstructed view due to these mirrors.
“It was his responsibility to do this at a walk round before driving.
“The reversing camera screen was in such a position that it obstructed his view of Emma.
“If he checked his blind spot behind the screen, he would have been able to see Emma.”
Gareth Reid, defending, told the sentencing: “Mr Mowat recognises he devastation and grief that will be endured by Emma’s friends and family.
“He accepts responsibility for the incident and the error which occurred as a result of entering the cycle box and the failure to observe Emma’s position at the junction.
“Mr Mowat offers sincere apologies to Emma’s family.”
The family of a cyclist who died after a crash with a lorry has said the much-loved mum will be “missed by everyone who knew her”.
Una Brandreth, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision with the HGV in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire…
Two teenagers tragically died in the accident. The driver is in critical condition By John Paul Breslin[1] Published: 00:22, 20 March 2024 | Updated: 00:55, 20 March 2024
Two teenagers who died in a horrific crash with a…
Police Scotland said Kyle Marshall, 19, and Jayden McConnell, 17, died after a black Vauxhall Corsa collided with a HGV on the A91 on Sunday.
Mr Marshall’s family said they were “devastated” by his death and that he “will be greatly missed”.
The crash …
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Port of Cromarty Firth. Picture: Port of Cromarty Firth
The Scottish Government has announced that tax reliefs at the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport[2] will be extended to 2034.
The exten…
Two teenagers have died, another is in a critical condition, and a fourth was injured following a crash between a car and a lorry in Stirling.
The collision, involving a black Vauxhall Corsa and an HGV, happened on the A91 at around 3.50pm on Sunday.
E…
Ready at the head of the train. A Freightliner class 66 diesel ready for departure from Grangemouth with the Elderslie intermodal express. Image Andrew Sumner of Malcolm Group Image Andrew Sumner of Malcolm Group
A trial has been held of a sub-fifty mi…