Learner driver jailed for causing death of Dumfries woman in Ayrshire horror crash
Isabella Miller died at the scene of the incident in Auchinleck in March
Last updated 5th Sep 2018
A learner driver who killed a 68-year-old great gran in a horror crash while driving on the wrong side of the road has been jailed for six years.
At the High Court in Glasgow Thomas Devlin, 26, of Auchinleck, Ayrshire, admitted causing the death of pensioner Isabella Miller from Dumfries
The court heard that Devlin's Peugeot 307 overtook two cars – hitting one - and was on the wrong side of the road when he collided with a Vauxhall Antara.
His car came to rest on its roof and he ran off leaving Mrs Miller trapped and dying in the back seat of her daughter-in-law's car.
Later when quizzed by police Devlin told them: “I thought both those cars had crashed before I hit them. Everything was just a big blur.”
Yesterday judge Lord Burns told him: “You drove in what you accept was a dangerous fashion for a substantial period.
“As a result of your driving Mrs Miller died. You fled the scene without stopping. This is a most serious offence a flagrant disregard for the rules of the road and the great danger caused to others.”
Lord Burns also ordered Devlin to serve a consecutive sentence of 11 weeks for failing to stop after the crash and banned from driving for eight years.
The court heard that Devlin overtook a Ford Focus around 11pm on March 24 and as he did so clipped the driver's mirror.
He then overtook another car and drove at speed on the wrong side of the road before smashing into a Vauxhall Antara in which Mrs Miller was a passenger.
Driver Donna Miller – Isabella's daughter-in-law – tried to avoid the collision and swerved. Her car struck the kerb rolled and rotated and hit the Ford Focus
Mrs Miller , who had four sons, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, sustained fracture to her spine, ribs and pelvis and a tear to a major blood vessel.
Prosecutor Angela Gray said: “ Mrs Miller was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.30pm. The post mortem findings indicated that she would have died quickly on impact.”
Mrs Miller and her son Mark and daughter-in-law Donna had been returning home from a birthday party at a bowling club in Cumnock.
Devlin admitted causing the death of Mrs Miller by dangerous driving on the A76 Kilmarnock to Dumfries near to Skerrington roundabout, Cumnock on March 24.
He also admitted a catalogue of other driving charges including no displaying 'L' plates having no insurance, no MOT , no licence and and failing to stop.
Learner driver Devlin obtained the Peugeot 307 for £100 on the day of the crash.
Defence counsel Kevin McCallum said: “He expresses his profound remorse for his actions on that night.”
Mr McCallum added that Mrs Miller was a distant relative of the accused.