STV NewsA driver who knocked down and killed a woman metres away from another fatal collision has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Anthony Burke, 60, struck Gloria Graham, 64, on Glasgow city centre’s Elmbank Street on February 2, 2023.
The mum-of-two crossed the road at a junction and was hit by Burke’s Volkswagen Tiguan while he made a turn onto the road.
The incident was witnessed by emergency crews who were at the scene attending to another crash.
Ms Graham was taken to hospital but died a month later on March 1, 2023.
First offender Burke pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to causing Ms Graham’s death by careless driving.
The supermarket worker was disqualified from driving for 12 months and put under supervision for one year at sentencing.
Sheriff Louise Arrol, KC said: “The collision investigator says that she was clearly visible, but you failed to observe her.
“She suffered a serious injury and was unresponsive.
“The court expresses its remorse to Ms Graham’s friends and family.
“I should make it clear that the sentence imposed is in absolutely no way equal to her tragic loss of life.”
The court earlier heard that Burke was travelling home after volunteering to help refugees at the Millennium Hotel.
CCTV showed a number of police vans and ambulances with flashing lights at the other fatal incident.
It is believed that Ms Graham was on her route home to nearby Argyle Street when she spoke to a police officer.
The footage saw Ms Graham cross the road and walk towards the pavement.
She then crossed Elmbank Street, which she walked on for almost five seconds.
Burke did a turn into Elmbank Street while Ms Graham was crossing.
Prosecutor Kathleen O’Donnell said: “He braked to slow the vehicle through the manoeuvre but did not stop.
“Ms Graham was struck by the car and came to rest on the road then the vehicle stopped.”
Police officers, an off-duty GP and a paramedic raced from the other scene to Ms Graham’s aid.
She was found to have suffered a bleeding head injury and was taken by ambulance to hospital.
Ms Graham also sustained rib and pelvic fractures as well as a wound to her lung.
Her cause of death was found to be “bronchopneumonia due to traumatic brain injury due to road traffic collision”.
A collision investigation found that Burke had “sufficient time” to see Ms Graham on the road and come to a stop.
It was stated that Burke, of Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, was driving between ten to 15 miles per hour but speed was “not an issue” for the collision.
Michael Lyons, defending, told the sentencing: “I recognise this was an utterly tragic case.
“Mr Bruke has asked me to express in open court his sincere apologies and condolences to Miss Graham’s friends and family.”
The other fatal case nearby involved Akbar Razaq, who struck pedestrian Chinenye Okonkwo.
Razaq mounted the pavement while travelling at 60mph in a 30mph zone.
Ms Okonkwo, 33, from Nigeria, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lord Mulholland told the High Court in Glasgow her death was an “utter tragedy”.
Razaq, 29, was remanded in custody after he admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving
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