Drunk driver on mobile phone killed 'beloved' grandad in Hamilton hit-and-run

A drunk driver who was on his mobile phone killed a “beloved” granddad in a hit-and-run.

Gary Gallacher, 37, struck James Craig, 70, with a hired Mercedes A Class car in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on October 27, 2024.

The High Court in Glasgow was told that Gallacher had earlier picked up associates in Falkirk who were in the passenger seats.

Over the night, Gallacher drank bottles of Desperado beer and Buckfast tonic wine.

Maintenance engineer Mr Craig had been at his local pub, the Victoria Bar and was due to walk home after midnight.

Prosecutor Naomei Warner said: “Mr Craig began to cross the road and as he did so, the Mercedes vehicle driven by Gallacher struck him as he was on the road, projecting him onto the ground.

“Gallacher did not stop his vehicle and continued to drive.”

A witness stated that the Mercedes did not appear to be driving at excessive speed but was “really close” to Mr Craig.

The witness expected Gallacher to slow down, but he did not brake at all or make any attempt to swerve and avoid Mr Craig.

Ms Warner added: “The impact was described as quite substantial and caused Mr Craig to be thrown up from the road towards the kerb, landing in the road towards the kerb.”

James Craig died following a hit-and-run in Hamilton. Police Scotland

The court was told that before the collision, the front passenger was playing with the controls, trying to connect his phone to the radio,

Gallacher was using his mobile phone while driving and was trying to show the passenger something on it related to boxing.

Gallacher, at the time, was described as being “full of it on drink and drugs.”

The passenger shouted at Gallacher to move, having seen Mr Craig in front of the car.

After the crash, Gallacher asked the passenger to push the wing mirror back out, which was later found to be shattered, and parts had come off it.

Paramedics attended, and resuscitation attempts were made on Mr Craig, who was in cardiac arrest, but there was no response.

He was seen to have injuries to his head, chest and limbs. The dad-of-three was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court was told that Gallacher continued to drive after the collision and told the passenger: “F*** this, I can’t stop. I’m on the run.”

Gallacher sped off with all the passengers in the car who were “upset” by what had happened. Gallacher refused to stop or let them out.

All were eventually dropped off at different stages through the night.

The car was returned to the hire company with a number of damages to the bumper, mirror and door.

Ms Warner added: “Diagnostics data revealed the car had been driven with a significantly or completely deflated tyre for a significant portion of the period of hire and that damage was present when driven at the point of the fatal collision.”

On February 8, 2025, Gallacher was arrested in Falkirk for a separate matter when he admitted being involved in the collision.

He told officers that he made no attempt to assist Mr Craig or get him help. He stated he knew he was “wanted” by the police.

Gallacher denied being under the influence of illegal drugs and alcohol, but he had taken prescribed medication.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Mr Craig, who had a string of injuries to his head and body.

This included multiple rib fractures, a fracture to his breast bone, and a fracture to his upper neck.

Ms Warner said: “The pathologist found that the death of Mr Craig was therefore attributed to cervical spinal cord trauma from this injury.

“The primary cause of death is stated as neck injury due to road traffic collision.”

The family of Mr Craig, after his death, described him as a “beloved dad and papa.”

Gallacher pleaded guilty to causing Mr Craig’s death by dangerous driving.

Gallacher was previously jailed for five-and-a-half years in 2017 after taking part in the kidnapping of a man outside his home in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

Masked Gallacher had been released from an earlier sentence when he bundled the victim into the boot of a car before he left him bloodied, miles away from his home.

Gallacher’s record also includes a dangerous driving conviction in 2004 as well as driving while disqualified.

Sentence was deferred until November at the High Court in Glasgow pending background reports by Judge Lord Renucci.

Gallacher had his remand in custody continued.

‘Nothing can bring our dad back’

In a statement given after the court hearing, the family said: “Today’s guilty plea brings very mixed emotions for us. Nothing can bring our dad back or undo what happened, but having responsibility for his death acknowledged is a relief and means a great deal to our family.

“Now that the circumstances surrounding his death and the history of the person responsible are being heard, what we have learned has been incredibly difficult for our family to take in.

“There are questions about how someone with such a significant history came to be in a position where this could happen, and we hope those questions are properly understood and acknowledged during sentencing.

“We want to thank advocate depute Naomei Warner, our victim information and advice worker, the procurator fiscal’s office and all our family and friends for their support throughout this time.

“We would also like to thank the people who stopped on the night and tried to help our dad.

“Our dad, our kids’ papa, should still be here today. He was deeply loved, and our family and friends will live with the pain and consequences of losing him for the rest of our lives.

“We want him to be remembered for who he was and the life he lived, not simply for the terrible circumstances of his death.”