Death-crash driver 'should have faced more serious charge'

THE wife of a motorist killed in a head-on collision yesterday criticised the "dangerous" man convicted of causing his death.

Alan Stewart tried to overtake a lorry on a rural road between Alyth, Perthshire, and Kirriemuir, Angus, when his visibility was impaired by spray from the truck and when he was too close to a blind summit.

His Citroen Picasso smashed head on into a Fiat Punto driven by trainee driving instructor Philip Pritchard, 48, from Brechin, who died at the scene of the crash on 24 November, 2008.

A jury of six men and nine women took two hours to find Stewart guilty of causing death by careless driving after a four-day trial.

Mr Pritchard's wife, Maria, last night said he should have been convicted of the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard Stewart was following a lorry driven by Brian Alexander, 63, from Blairgowrie. Mr Alexander told how when he saw Stewart begin his overtaking manoeuvre he thought "he'll be doing well to get past" - before attempting to signal Stewart and Mr Pritchard to slow down.

However, they collided head on just feet from the side of his cab - before spinning into the entrance of Reedie Farm.

Stewart, a machine operator, declined to comment as he left the High Court in Dundee. However, he earlier told the court: "Most of the time I wish it was me that died and not him. I think about it every moment of every day. It is a devastating thing for everybody concerned."

Stewart, 50, of Baitland Cottage, Airlie, near Kirriemuir, Angus, was found guilty of causing the death of Mr Pritchard by careless driving. Judge Lady Clark of Calton deferred sentence on Stewart until 12 January at the High Court in Edinburgh and banned him from driving until that date.

Speaking outside court, Mrs Pritchard, 49, flanked by sons Andrew, 20, and Simon, 23, paid tribute to her husband.

She said: "I am relieved that it's all over, but annoyed that it has taken two years to get here.

"I think he should have been done for death by dangerous driving. He overtook the lorry from the brow of a hill. He might only get community service now and he might get his licence back, too. He gets to carry on as normal."