Taxi driver who ran over collapsed mum fined £450
Patricia McBride was in a medically induced coma for six days after the incident
Last updated 6th Dec 2024
A Glasgow taxi driver who ran over a mum who had collapsed at the side of the road has been fined £450.
The incident happened in Toryglen in 2022 when John Paul Borland struck Patricia McBride, leaving her in “life-threatening” condition.
The then 52 year old was in a medically induced coma for six days after the accident, with more than 30 rib fractures, a collapsed lung, and a spinal fracture.
Borland claimed he did not see Miss McBride lying on the road as he was distracted by a man waving at him.
More than 30 rib fractures
He was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of dangerous driving having initially stood trial for dangerous driving.
Borland has also been disqualified from driving for six months by Sheriff Paul Reid.
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 he road.
Medically induced coma for six days
"She has no recollection of the collision and only recalls briefly wakening up at the roadside and thereafter six days later in hospital."
Alongside injuries to her ribs, Miss McBride suffered a fractured collarbone, right clavicle, left wrist and right arm, as well as wounds to her liver, kidney, and spleen.
The joint minute says: "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."
The now former private licenced taxi driver spoke in court about seeing a man waving on the side of the road.
"I'm not blaming anyone"
He said: “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."
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."
"There was nothing I could have done"
Miss McQuade asked before the "distraction" of the man waving, if he saw the person on the road.
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.