Bus driver ran over and killed businessman on daily walk

Amarjit Singh admitted causing death by careless driving

A bus driver ran over and killed a Glasgow businessman who was crossing a city road on his daily walk.

First Bus driver Amarjit Singh, 56, admitted killing Scott Willies, 65, by careless driving on Great Western Road on 27 January 2024.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that he failed to spot Mr Willies - a former director of the Arnold Clark car sales group - despite having a 700m (765 yard) view of the road ahead.

Sheriff John McCormick said Mr Willies' family was "heartbroken by his loss".

He added: "I read the terms of the victim impact statement and I can understand their torment at the manner of his demise."

The court heard that Singh was driving a number six bus to Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire while Mr Willies was out at 07:00 on his 30,000 steps per day walk.

Prosecutor Paula Wedlock said: "As the bus was approaching at the junction, the traffic lights changed to amber.

"Singh failed to slow down and instead maintained his speed through the junction at 24 miles per hour."

Mr Willies was out for his daily walk when the accident happened.

Mr Willies crossed the stop line while the amber light was illuminated and a red man displayed.

Miss Wedlock stated: "On the approach to Great Western Road, Mr Willies didn't stop to check for traffic and continued to walk across the road.

The fiscal depute added that Mr Willies did not cross directly at the crossing but before the recognised area.

Miss Wedlock said: "The front windscreen of the bus struck Mr Willies causing him to fall to the ground and he went under the bus.

"The bus stopped and Mr Willies' body was lying behind it."

Emergency crews attended and carried out CPR but Mr Willies died at the scene.

An investigation found no defects to the bus and Singh had not been on his phone at the time of the collision.

Disqualified from driving

Miss Wedlock said: "The north-bound driver had a view of at least 700m along a straight stretch of road."

The fiscal depute added that Mr Willies' view of the road, in the hours of darkness, would have been hampered due to shrubbery.

David Nicolson KC, defending, said: "I am aware that friends and family of Mr Willies are in the court.

"I take this opportunity on his behalf to send his sincere condolences to them.

"He hopes in some small way that his plea of guilty will offer them some comfort and allow matters to progress rather than what would have been the case."

After his death, Mr Willies was described as "A long serving colleague and respected Director of the Arnold Clark Group.

"He was much loved and will be sorely missed by all of his wider family and his many friends."

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until November.

Singh, of the city's Maryhill had his bail continued and was disqualified from driving.