20-year old convicted of causing death of school girl in East Kilbride
He was accused of causing her death by dangerous driving, but was cleared of that charge.
A 20-year old driver was convicted of causing the death of a 15-year-old schoolgirl on a pedestrian crossing by careless driving.
Kieran Kennedy from Chapelton, South Lanarkshire, had been on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of causing her death by dangerous driving – but was cleared of that charge.
He was driving his Volkswagen Sirocco on the outside lane of the Kingsway, East Kilbride, when he struck Megan Scott one second after the traffic lights changed from amber to red.
His car smashed into Megan, who was on her phone and wearing headphones, as she crossed the pedestrian crossing at 5.46pm on October 18, 2017.
The jury was shown video footage which showed Kennedy only braking after the traffic lights had turned to red. But they also heard that Megan had started crossing seconds before the green light for pedestrians came on.
The force of the impact threw her onto the bonnet of Kennedy's car and into the air. She landed close to a stationary bus.
In evidence, Kennedy admitted he was to blame for the crash. The jury heard that he had offered at an early stage to plead guilty to causing death by careless driving.
Kennedy, who had only passed his driving test weeks before the collision, told the jury that the first thing he noticed was Megan's mobile phone at the bottom left hand corner of his car windscreen.
The hit the brakes and next thing he remembered was hitting Megan and seeing her lying on the road fatally injured.
Former rail track maintenance worker Kennedy, who has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and depression told the jury: "I've thought about that day every day. It's the only thing I think about."
The court was told that Kennedy has not driven since May 2018.
Mr Scullion said: "Do you accept the traffic light was red when you drove through it and do you accept you caused the death of Megan Scott," and Kennedy replied: "Yes."
Kennedy was asked how he felt about Megan's death and he said: "I never knew her but I just think about her every single day and how sorry I am.
"I just want to say sorry to her family. I know they'll never forgive me, but I just want to say sorry to them. I'll never stop being sorry."
Motorist Karen Hurton, who was on the inside lane stationary behind the crossing, said: "The girl began to cross the road. She was on her phone."
Mrs Hutton said the traffic lights were at red and added: "She was thrown in the air forwards. She hit a bus and dropped to the ground."
"I saw the car as the girl passed me. It came up the outside lane and hit her."
Judge Lord Armstrong deferred sentence on first offender Kennedy until January next year, allowed him bail and banned him from driving meantime.
Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.