Delivery driver faces jail time over M74 crash death
A delivery driver killed another motorist out changing his tyre in a horror crash on the M74.
A delivery driver killed another motorist out changing his tyre in a horror crash on the M74.
Nicholas Williams ploughed into William Johnston, who was fixing his car on the hard shoulder of the near Larkhall.
Williams, 60, had been working for 11 hours at the time of the accident in November 2014.
Grandfather Mr Johnston – also 60 - never recovered after being hurled almost 200 feet through the air.
Williams denied falling asleep at the wheel instead claiming he had lost control after hearing a “loud bang”.
But, he now faces jail after pleading guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
He will learn his fate when he returns to the dock next month.
Williams – from Bristol – was a self-employed delivery driver at the time of the smash on November 18 2014.
He had started his shift at 7.45pm the previous evening.
Williams initially travelled to Milton Keynes before making a pickup in Chorley, Lancashire.
He was the making a near 200-mile journey to Glasgow when tragedy struck.
Mr Johnston – a council bus driver - was on the M74 around 6am on his way to work but, a problem arose with a tyre of his Fiat Punto and he was forced to pull onto the hard shoulder.
He then put on his hazard lights before beginning to remove the wheel of his car.
Williams meantime was heading north – a GPS tracker in his van noted him going at a speed of 85mph shortly before the crash.
Prosecutor Jane Farquharson said another driver then spotted him “drifting” from his lane onto the hard shoulder.
Williams' van soon smacked into the Fiat Punto before hitting Mr Johnston.
He was launched 170 feet into the air then crashing to the ground.
Williams stopped his van as a witness got out to help. Williams said he was “all right”, but was described as “staring blankly”.
A 999 call was made, but when police arrived, Mr Johnston was already dead.
He was found to have been horrifically injured – including his leg being amputated as well as extensive fractures and bruising.
Prior to his death, he had lived with his wife of more than 30 years and his family in Biggar, South Lanarkshire.
The court heard he also recently become a grand-father.
Williams initially claimed to police his own tyre had “blew out” causing him to “swerve”.
In a later interview, he said he had not been “tired or drowsy” and denied he could have “fallen asleep whilst driving”.
Miss Farquharson added: “He stated that he had not seen Mr Johnston's car on the hard shoulder with its hazard lights illuminated – and could not explain why not.”
Williams said he had heard a “loud bang” which resulted in him losing control of his steering wheel and swerving from his lane.
The prosecutor: “He stated that he had been unaware he had hit Mr Johnston until advised otherwise.”
The court heard, however, that an expert believed any damage to Williams' van was as a result of the collision.
Barry Smith, defending, said Williams wished to convey his “heartfelt sympathy” to Mr Johnston's grieving family.
Judge Johanna Johnston QC continued bail for Williams as sentencing was deferred for reports.