Car salesman ran over colleague causing him severe brain damage

A car salesman caused a colleague to suffer severe brain damage after running him over.

Stewart Thornton, 40, struck Karl O'Donnell, 51, at Taggart Land Rover in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, on 21 May 2021.

Thornton, of Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, reversed his car from a car wash bay at speed while Mr O'Donnell was stood behind him.

Mr O'Donnell fell to the ground and struck his head before he was taken to hospital for his "severe" injury.

Thornton was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Jurors were read an agreed joint minute of evidence at the start of the three-day trial.

Prosecutor Sean Docherty said: "There was a road traffic incident involving Stewart Thornton and Karl O'Donnell.

"At the time, Thornton was driving a grey Land Rover Evoque and Mr O'Donnell was a pedestrian.

"There was a collision between the rear of the Land Rover and Mr O'Donnell.

"Mr O'Donnell was admitted to hospital at 11.20am due to the serious injury sustained during the incident.

"He presented with a severe traumatic brain injury, he was in a coma and underwent emergency surgery."

Mr O'Donnell did not give evidence at the trial.

The court heard from defence advocate David Nicolson who told the jury in his speech that his client was doing Mr O'Donnell "a favour" before the collision.

He said: "Mr Thornton had his car ready to be washed but Mr O'Donnell had a pressing need to get his car washed as a client was coming to collect it.

"Mr Thornton got out of the wash bay and he was criticised for assuming Mr O'Donnell went back into his car read to go in the wash bay."

Jurors were told that that Thornton reversed down a ramp for 2.47 seconds when the impact happened.

Thornton later told police: "I was driving, I don't know what happened, he wanted in to wash his car and I reversed out.

"I feel sick."

He stated he did not look over his left shoulder and did not see Mr O'Donnell.

Sheriff Tom Hughes said after Thornton was convicted: "Obviously, the case is very serious which led to catastrophic consequences - I don't need to tell you that."

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month and Thornton was granted bail meantime.

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