Postman cleared of causing serious injury to elderly woman by dangerous driving

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-a ... y-35774886

The 73-year-old sustained multiple fractures when she was knocked down by Alan Russell's van in Cumbernauld.

A postman has been cleared of causing serious injury to an elderly woman by dangerous driving.

The 73-year-old sustained multiple fractures when she was knocked down by Alan Russell's van in Cumbernauld.

Russell, 43, of Jacob Place, Falkirk, was accused of causing serious injury by driving his van dangerously.

However, a jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict after trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court this week.

Russell was also cleared of an alternative charge of careless driving.

The collision happened while he was delivering mail in Ashiestel Court, Cumbernauld, shortly after 6pm on December 14, 2023.

The court heard Russell didn't see the woman and hit her as he reversed. He then drove forward, not realising she was under the car.

It was only when he got out of his van to deliver letters that he discovered her injured on the road.

The pensioner suffered four broken ribs as well as fractures to her shoulder, elbow and chest.

She did not give evidence during the trial but the court was shown CCTV footage of the incident.

It was dark and there were parked cars in the vicinity.

Russell said he was aware of the woman as he drove into the street, but assumed she had walked behind a vehicle on to the pavement.

The prosecution said it was "grossly inattentive" of him to make such an assumption and suggested he "hadn't been looking properly".

Russell said that when he felt the impact of the collision he thought he had hit the kerb or a lamppost.

It was suggested to him that a "competent and careful" driver would have got out of the vehicle immediately to check for damage, but he hadn't done that and had driven forward then reversed again.

The jury was asked to accept that his driving "fell far below that expected of a careful and competent driver".

Defence lawyer Isla Sinclair said it had been an "awful, awful" accident.

But she told the court: "His assumption that the woman was on the pavement was a reasonable one to make.

"He was checking his wing mirrors constantly. Quite understandably, he believed he had hit the kerb."

[scoobydo79]

Crikey. They were out to get this bloke. That could have been any one of us couldn’t it?

[Mr Rush]

The pensioner suffered four broken ribs as well as fractures to her shoulder, elbow and chest.

I just want to say this would never have happened if she had worn a hi-viz vest

[TopperGas]

Crikey. They were out to get this bloke. That could have been any one of us couldn’t it?

Pretty sure most of us would know the difference between driving up the kerb and running over something in the road, his brief clearly earned her money!!

[Baldie1]

Does anyone know if he kept his job?

[SkiSunday]

Does anyone know if he kept his job?

Do you mean after his custodial sentence?

Probably will, with a couple of extra loops on Monday