Phone-use driver jailed over Dumfries death crash

A recovery driver caught on camera checking his phone prior to a fatal crash has been jailed for five years.

David Shields, 34, crashed into Yvonne Blackman's car in a line of traffic on the A75 in Dumfries last February.

He had previously admitted a charge of causing the mother-of-four's death by dangerous driving.

Footage captured Shields, of Drongan, East Ayrshire, focusing on his phone for a full 18 seconds in the lead-up to the fatal crash.

Mrs Blackman, 66, of Lockerbie, never recovered and died weeks later in hospital.

She was on her way to meet friends when the crash occurred.

Her husband said he hoped the sentence given to Shields would deter other drivers from similar behaviour.

The crash happened on the A75 in Dumfries in February last year

She ended up getting caught in heavy traffic on the A75 Gretna to Stranraer road at about 08:30 on 8 February 2017.

The court previously heard Shields was driving in the area while working for 911 Rescue Recovery.

He met the same line of traffic before ploughing into the back of Ms Blackman's Toyota Yaris.

His defence counsel John Scullion QC said: "He has asked me to apologise to Mrs Blackman's family and is ashamed of his actions that day."

Yvonne Blackman died weeks after the accident

In addition to his jail term, Shields was banned from driving for seven years and six months.

On sentencing, Lady Stacey said that as a professional driver he should have seen the queue of traffic and stopped but had not because he had focused his attention on his phone.

"I have seen a video of the crash and know you were paying heed to your mobile phone for 18 seconds," she said.

"It was a very dangerous thing to do.

"I know you did not intend the catastrophic result, but you should have known the terrible risk you were taking."

Mrs Blackman's husband spoke outside court following the sentencing

Ralph Blackman said he hoped the five-year jail term in relation to his wife's case would send out a message.

"I hope this sentence deters any drivers from doing the same," he said.

"They should realise the suffering and hurt it causes to the victim's family.

"I was a professional driver for 40 years and I've never used my mobile phone. If I'm driving I just let it ring."

He said he understood the dangers and other drivers needed to do so too.

"Only a second's inattention can be dangerous and he had 18 seconds with his eyes off the road," he said.

'Avoidable crash'

Mrs Blackman, a mother-of-four, had 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Her husband said: "She was very bubbly and fun-loving. She had a long life to live."

Commenting on the sentence, Sgt Paul Dodds from Police Scotland said: "This tragic and entirely avoidable crash clearly demonstrates the fatal consequences which can occur when drivers allow themselves to be distracted by another device whether handheld or otherwise.

"Sadly, Yvonne Blackman, being a wife, mother and friend lost her life owing to the inattention of Mr Shields who needlessly allowed himself to be distracted from the road ahead and instead chose to focus his attention on a cradle-mounted mobile phone."