Death crash ruling delay over missing social report

Published on Friday 22 May 2009 23:38

AN ANGRY judge criticised social workers yesterday for failing to produce a background report on a lorry driver who caused a fatal crash.

Lord Brailsford was unable to sentence Andrew Ramsay, 50, without the report, and issued a public apology to relatives of Gavin Sutherland, who died in the accident.

Several of his family had travelled from the Highlands to attend the sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

"I am profoundly angry there is no social inquiry report," said Lord Brailsford, who demanded a full explanation from North Lanarkshire Council.

Ramsay, of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, was convicted last month of causing the death of Mr Sutherland, 41, by dangerous driving on the A9 on 18 October, 2007. He also caused injuries to Bryan Duff, 33.

Mr Sutherland, of Invergordon Tyre Services, Easter Ross, attended a call to Mr Duff's lorry at Daviot Brae, south of Inverness. The lorry and breakdown truck were on the nearside lane of the southbound dual carriageway while Mr Sutherland fitted a tyre. The vehicles had hazard lights flashing, and the truck had warning beacons, and were visible for over a mile.

A jury heard that Ramsay had not noticed them and made no attempt to change lanes, applying his brakes only a second before impact. Mr Sutherland was thrown into the air and landed nearly 40ft away. Mr Duff, of Portmahomack, Easter Ross, broke a bone in his foot and injured his shoulder.

The case returns to court in two weeks.