Delivery driver jailed for causing head-on crash that killed Ayrshire gran

A delivery driver who caused the death of a retired social worker from Girvan in a head-on crash has been jailed for three years.

John Dale, 43, a dad-of-three from Greenock, was told by judge Lord Mulholland that he had 'shattered the lives” of 67-year-old Mary Fulton's family and added that victim impact statement from them were 'heart-wrenching.”

Lord Mulholland disqualified Dale from driving for 10 years and told him: “You drove your HGV erratically for 500 metres and 28 seconds. You are entirely to blame.

“You have visited a life sentence of loss and grief on Mary Fulton's family and you will have to live with that for the rest of your life.”

Dale's delivery lorry ploughed head-on into Mary's Skoda Yeti on the A77 near Girvan, Ayrshire, in November 2017.

Seconds earlier he had clipped another car.

Dale admitted causing Mary's death by dangerous driving.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Dale's vehicle had drifted onto the wrong side of the road and people in the car behind him thought he was asleep.

Mary, who was a grandmother, died at the scene from her injuries and the court heard that Dale rushed over to try to help her.

Dale already has motoring convictions for careless and drink driving in 2010 when he drove into a wall.

In November 2017 his “erratic” driving came to the attention of other motorists on the A77.

He went on to cross double white lines and into the opposite side of the road.

Dale initially collided with a car driven by an 85-year-old woman.

But, advocate depute Greg Farrell said that seconds later, Dale's Mercedes HGV hit Mary's Skoda.

He and other motorists raced out to help – but it soon became clear the gran, also of Girvan, was already dead.

Dale was then found to be “in shock” and “hyper-ventilating”.

He went on to tell another driver: “I did not see her.”

Advocate Euan Dow, defending, said: “It is Mr Dale's belief that he was unconscious in the seconds before the accident.

“He became aware that something was wrong when he heard what sounded like an explosion.”

Mr Dow said that at first Dale thought his lorry had blown up and went on: “It was only when he got out his vehicle he realised there had been a collision.”

The advocate added: “Mr Dale has been diagnosed with post trauma stress syndrome and has repeatedly expressed remorse. He suffers from flashbacks and has difficulty sleeping.”

The court heard potential factors – such as being asleep at the wheel or using a mobile – had been discounted.

Checks also been made to find out if Dale had an undiagnosed medical condition, but this was also ruled out.