HGV driver admits his careless driving killed Glasgow cyclist

Emma Burke Newman was studying architecture at Glasgow School of Art

A lorry driver has admitted killing a French cyclist after running her over at a set of traffic lights.

Paul Mowat, 69, struck Emma Burke Newman in Glasgow city centre on 27 January 2023. He turned and hit the cyclist in the lane to his left.

The 22-year-old, a student at Glasgow School of Art, was dragged under the HGV for about 53m (174ft) and died in hospital about 90 minutes later.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court Mowat admitted causing her death by careless driving.

Mowat had claimed he was unable to see Ms Burke Newman at the traffic lights.

He was later found to have had his view obstructed by a reversing camera as well as dirty mirrors and windscreen.

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The hearing was broadcast online to Ms Burke Newman's family in France and the USA who were unable to attend.

The court heard that Mowat's lorry stopped across a line at the traffic lights designed at a safe zone for cyclists.

CCTV played to the court showed Ms Burke Newman stop her bike in front of the lorry on Glasgow's Broomielaw at about 10:00.

Paul Mowat admitted causing the cyclist's death by careless driving

A double decker bus which also encroached the cycle space line was positioned in the lane to Mowat's right.

Prosecutor Susan Campbell said: "The lights changed to green and Mowat and the bus moved forward.

"Emma took around one to two seconds longer to move off and looked towards the lorry as she did so."

She said the lorry's bumper then hit the pannier rack of the bike, causing Ms Burke Newman to fall off. She was then dragged under the lorry.

People at the scene made Mowat aware of the collision and went to the cyclist's aid.

Mowat was stated to have said: "I didn't see her."

'Obstructed view'

Collision investigators said Ms Burke Newman had put herself in a "vulnerable position" due to her close proximity to the lorry.

It was claimed that she did have other options to negotiate the junction safely.

Miss Campbell said Mowat had failed to make sure his close proximity mirrors were clean and this had left him with an obstructed view.

She said: "It was his responsibility to do this at a walk round before driving.

"The reversing camera screen was in such a position that it obstructed his view.

"If he checked his blind spot behind the screen, he would have been able to see Emma."

Ms Burke Newman was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination revealed extensive injuries to her abdomen, pelvis and both legs.

The crash site on the Broomielaw in Glasgow was cordoned off by police

Kris Kane, defending, told the court: "Mr Mowat has asked me to convey his deep found condolences to her family members who are present."

Ms Burke Newman was born in France to American parents who had moved there in 1994.

She moved from the town of Moulineaux to study in London and worked for an architecture firm.

She then moved to Scotland in September 2022 to study architecture at Glasgow School of Art.

Ms Burke Newman was said to have been a "keen cyclist, swimmer and enjoyed skiing."

Her parents Rose Marie Burke and John Newman have called on the Scottish government for greater protection for cyclists.

They backed the Pedal on Parliament "no backpedalling" campaign, which aims to create safer roads for cyclists.

The court heard that Mowat, of Govanhill in Glasgow, had a clean driving record.

Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC deferred sentencing to next month, pending background reports.