Ex police officer killed wife's aunt in crash the day before his wedding

A former police officer killed his wife's aunt the day before his wedding when he crashed head on into a van.

Andrew Hyams, 62, struck Carl Egerton's vehicle on the A737 between Kilwinning and Dalry, Ayrshire, on January 9 2024.

Annie Sinclair, 88, who was the passenger in Hyams' Ford Mondeo, died at the scene.

Hyams pleaded guilty today at the High Court in Glasgow to causing Mrs Sinclair's death and serious injury to Mr Egerton by dangerous driving.

The court heard that the ex-Merseyside Police officer was driving Mrs Sinclair to his home in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, that day.

Hyams was due to re-marry his ex-wife - whose aunt is Mrs Sinclair - after three years divorced.

Mr Egerton - who worked in property damage control and solutions - was also travelling home in the opposite direction.

Failed to turn left

Prosecutor Erin Campbell said: "For reasons unknown, Hyams failed to steer to negotiate a left hand bend.

"He crossed the centre of the road, narrowly missing another vehicle and drove straight into the path of Mr Egerton's van.

"Both vehicles then collided head on resulting in extensive damage to both, causing them to come to a complete stop."

Mr Egerton later reported that he saw the car which was "not speeding."

He stated that the driver "wasn't doing anything to get back to his own side of the road or slow down or brake."

Emergency crews arrived at the scene and assessed that widower Mrs Sinclair was the most seriously injured.

She was removed from the vehicle and stretchered to an ambulance where there was a failed resuscitation attempt.

Significant chest injuries

Miss Campbell added: "It was quickly established that she had sustained significant chest injuries which were not survivable."

The mum of an adult son was pronounced dead at 4.02pm.

Mr Egerton meantime was conscious and did not appear to have life threatening injures but was taken to hospital.

He was found to have suffered a fracture to his sternum as well as cuts and bruises.

Mr Egerton was unable to work for six months and later returned to hospital to have a metal plate fixed to his sternum.

'He is sorry'

A collision investigation report determined that the collision was "solely caused by Mr Hyams' failing to steer at the point he was negotiating the bend."

Ian Duguid KC, defending, told the court that his client did later remarry his wife who thought of Mrs Sinclair as her "favourite relative."

The advocate further stated that Hyams retired five years before the "tragic" incident after 27-years' service.

Mr Duguid said: "He is remorseful for the offence that transpired here and he is sorry.

"He would never have wished that his wife's favourite relative would have missed the occasion.

"He himself is at a loss to try and explain why he proceeded to drive in a straight line."

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month at the High Court in Livingston before Judge Lord Mulholland who continued Hyams' bail meantime.

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