GofundmeA lorry driver killed a heavily pregnant nurse in a horror motorway crash.
Trevor Norgate, 58, was behind the wheel of his HGV when it drifted onto the hard shoulder where Evelyn Brown, 41, had stopped in her Kia Sorento.
Norgate’s dash cam captured footage of the smash on the M8 westbound near Hermiston Gait in Edinburgh on December 18, 2023.
Evelyn – known as Eve – passed away from her injuries. She was 34 weeks pregnant at the time, and her unborn baby tragically did not survive either.
Prosecutors stated Norgate had “allowed himself to become distracted” prior to the collision, although it is not known how.
He appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
It emerged Norgate, of Bellshill, already had six points on his licence at the time for using a mobile phone while on the road.
He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced next month.
Prosecutor Jennifer Cameron told how Evelyn was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK in 2015.
She already had two young children at the time of the crash.
Evelyn worked as an agency nurse and had not long finished a 12-hour shift at East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington when tragedy struck that morning.
Miss Cameron said the mum had texted her sister to say she was on her way home.
Norgate, meantime, was driving his haulage firm HGV, having started work at 4am that day.
He had “complied with rest requirements” while behind the wheel of his lorry.
The court went on to be shown footage of the collision.
Evelyn’s car had been stationary on the hard shoulder at the time with its lights on.
Miss Cameron: “The HGV began to veer from the lane onto the hard shoulder.
“The vehicle drifted over a period of between seven to eight seconds with no corrective action being taken or braking to alter the course of travel.
“The lorry travelled on the hard shoulder for approximately 88.5 metres until the point of impact with the rear of Evelyn Brown’s vehicle.
“It is noted there is no sound or exclamation within the cab (of the lorry) immediately before impact, confirming Norgate, at that time, did not have his eyes on the road.”
The advocate depute added Norgate “ought to have seen” the Kia on the hard shoulder.
Norgate immediately got out and dialled 999. A passing doctor stopped to give an unresponsive Evelyn first aid.
Fire crews then arrived to get her out of the wrecked car. Paramedics tried valiantly to help at the scene, but Evelyn never recovered.
She had suffered fatal neck and chest injuries. Evelyn’s unborn baby also did not survive.
Norgate went on to make a number of comments to police including he had “moved in his lane” for “something in the road”.
But, Miss Cameron said there was “no evidence to substantiate” this claim.
She added, instead, the dash cam footage showed “a slow, continuous motion” on the hard shoulder that morning with “no signs of driver interaction”.
Evelyn, also of Bellshill, lived with her wheelchair user mother at the time.
She also had a lifelong friend who had moved from Nigeria to be with the nurse.
Evelyn’s two children now stay with their father, but return to visit their grandmother on a weekly basis.
Miss Cameron: “The family have felt the loss keenly. Miss Brown’s mother has been extremely distressed since and has not felt able to attend court.
“The children, on family visits, often ask when their mum is going to come home from work.”
David Nicolson, defending, said Norgate gave his “sincere apologies” for what happened.
The KC added: “He has done what he now can and hopefully the next of kin can take comfort from that.”
Mr Nicolson did not move for Norgate’s bail to be continued.
Lord Armstrong deferred sentencing until April 24 in Edinburgh.
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