Taxi driver found guilty of dangerous driving after hitting collapsed pedestrian

A Glasgow taxi driver has been found guilty of dangerous driving after he hit a mum who had collapsed in the road.

John Paul Borland hit Patricia McBride on Prospecthill Road in Toryglen in March 2022, leaving her in a medically induced coma for six days, with 32 fractures.

Her condition was described as life-threatening, with the then 52 year old suffering rib-fractures, a collapsed lung, and a spinal fracture.

Borland claimed he did not see Miss McBride on the side of the road, after being distracted by a man waving at him.

30 rib fractures, a collapsed lung, and a spinal fracture

The 42 year old was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of careless driving having initially stood trial for dangerous driving.

The court heard that Miss McBride had been at her daughter's home and left due to "feeling unwell."

A joint minute of agreed evidence stated: "She was due to return home when she crossed Prospecthill Road.

"Miss McBride collapsed and became unconscious, resulting in her laying across tmolyhe road.

"Life-threatening"

"She has no recollection of the collision and only recalls briefly wakening up at the roadside and thereafter six days later in hospital."

The court heard: “Miss McBride will be affected physically for the rest of her life and continues to suffer mobility issues and must attend hospital every two or three months for additional ongoing treatment for her injuries."

Borland, the now former private licenced taxi driver, said he was distracted by a man waving at him.

He told the court: “As I got closer, I saw him waving and as I approached I saw him and that's when I hit the woman on the road."

"I had no idea"

Linzi McQuade, defending, asked her client why he thought that the man was waving at him.

Borland said: "I had no idea, I thought maybe it was someone that knew me or recognised my car.

"Immediately after the impact, I put the handbrake on and the first thing I did was run out of the car and a witness said that there was nothing I could have done then I asked for an ambulance to be called."

Miss McQuade asked before the "distraction" of the man waving, if he saw the person on the road.

"I'm not blaming anyone"

Borland replied: "I can't say I saw the pedestrian on the road."

Prosecutor Ross Canning asked Borland in cross examination if he was blaming the waving man for the incident and he replied: "I'm not blaming anyone."

It was revealed that Borland, of the city's Cathcart, has two previous road traffic convictions.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Paul Reid who continued Borland's bail meantime.

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