Man jailed for killing woman, 72, in head-on crash

Rizwan Afzal was jailed at the High Court in Dundee

A man who killed a 72-year-old woman in a head-on car crash has been jailed for three years.

Rizwan Afzal, 24, lost control of his car at a bend and crashed into Doreen Stewart's vehicle near Falkirk.

The retired university housekeeper died at the scene despite the efforts of two off-duty paramedics.

Afzal was also banned from driving for eight years at the High Court in Dundee.

He previously admitted causing Mrs Stewart's death by dangerous driving on the rural B8028 road between Hallglen and Shieldhill in January 2022.

Afzal also admitted causing severe injury to his passenger, Jordan Reilly.

The court heard that the incident happened six months after Afzal had completed a driving ban for speeding.

The court heard previously that Afzal was driving his Volkswagen on the day of the crash with his friend in the passenger seat.

Mrs Stewart, of Falkirk, was returning home from visiting her daughter and grandchild.

Head-on collision

Road safety experts told the court that the maximum safe speed for negotiating the bend was 42mph and Afzal confessed to losing control of his car at 55mph.

Afzal shot across the central white lines and collided head-on with Mrs Stewart's car.

Tony Lenehan KC said: "It is clear there is genuine remorse. He has insight into the harm he has done others.

"No words he can offer can lessen the damage done by the loss of Mrs Stewart to her family and friends."

Judge Lady Drummond KC told Afzal: "The family feel the weight of her absence is overwhelming.

"No sentence will reflect the severity of their loss."