Man admits causing death of mum in Annielsland crash
James Spiers' car struck Pauline Gillespie as she was taking shopping from her car
Last updated 8th Jan 2020
A court’s been told a mum-of-one died from horrific injuries nine days after a car ploughed into her as she unloaded shopping from the boot of her car in Anniesland.
James Spiers, 55, crashed into 55-year-old Pauline Gillespie outside her home on November 10, 2018, after causing a bump with another car when he went through a red light.
One of Mrs Gillespie's legs was severed and she also suffered a brain injury, a broken pelvis and fractured ribs.
Just minutes earlier she had parked outside her home and was unloading items from the boot.
She died in the Queen Elizabeth University hospital, Glasgow, on November 19, 2018.
When police arrived on the scene Spiers told them he had checked on the woman driving the other car, but claimed he did not realise he had struck Mrs Gillespie.
Spiers pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to causing the death of Mrs Gillespie by careless driving and apologised to her family and friends.
The court heard that Spiers drove his Vauxhall Vectra ear through a red traffic light at the junction of Bearsden Road and Fulton Street.
Mrs Gillespie parked her car in Fulton Street, got out and began taking items out of her boot.
Another car went through the Fulton Street junction on green and was hit by Spiers who ran a red light.
The force of this collision caused Spiers’ car to collide with Mrs Gillespie who was at the back of her car.
Police arrived at the crash scene and found Mrs Gillespie lying on the road conscious and Spiers in his car.
Prosecutor Ruth Ross Davie said that a post mortem examination revealed the cause of death as brain injury.
Defence lawyer Euan Cameron said: “It is clear Mrs Gillespie was a much loved and valued mother, friend and wife.
“Mr Spiers has asked me to convey his apologies to her family and does so with the realisation his remorse must inevitably offer little consolation.
“He says not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about Mrs Gillespie and her family. As a consequence of his actions, lives have been ruined.”
Sentence was deferred until the end of the month for background reports on Spiers by Sheriff Joseph Platt.
Spiers, from Patna, East Ayrshire, was bailed meantime.
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