A police officer has admitted causing the death of a mum of three who was hit by his speeding van as she walked across a road.
PC Jamie Hamill was travelling at more than 50 miles an hour in a built-up area shortly before the fatal crash in Motherwell.
A court heard he frantically tried to save Margaret McCarron by carrying out CPR, but the 58-year-old was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later.
Hamill, 32, admitted causing Margaret’s death by driving carelessly and exceeding the speed limit on September 19, 2021.
He had been a police officer for only 18 months at the time.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard he was driving a police Ford Transit van in Motherwell town centre around 8.20pm.
Hamill activated his blue light to follow a driver suspected of having no insurance, but lost sight of the vehicle.
He switched off the blue light then he and a colleague decided to drive to the suspect’s home.
Niall Macdonald, prosecuting, said CCTV showed Hamill driving at 52 miles an hour in an area where the speed limit is 30.
He slowed down as he travelled along Merry Street and his speed was recorded as 39.95 miles an hour “near the point of collision”.
Sheriff Louise Gallacher was shown CCTV footage of the run-up to the crash.
Mr Macdonald told the court: “Margaret McCarron had left her home to buy some items at the Esso petrol station on Merry Street.
“This is a walk of some five minutes. Her husband said they had been consuming alcohol but she was not drunk.
“She was standing at the other side of the road from the oncoming police van, waiting to cross.
“She let four cars and a large van pass and was stationary for about 20 seconds before starting to cross the road.
“Margaret crossed one lane but was then struck by the accused’s van. A taxi driver said she had reached the middle of the road and was trying to hurry.
“The accused did not react to her presence. He and his colleague, PC David Waddell, got out of their van and found Margaret lying unconscious and not breathing.
“The accused did CPR while PC Waddell stopped other vehicles. The accused also radioed for an ambulance, saying ‘Someone has walked out in front of the van’. He was visibly upset.
“Margaret was taken to hospital, but there were no signs of life and she was pronounced dead.
“The cause of death was severe neck and chest injuries.”
The fatal crash was referred to the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner.
A report concluded that “dazzle from oncoming lights would have undermined the ability of the accused to see Margaret once she had entered the road”.
But Mr Macdonald said Hamill’s speed meant the risk of a fatality was four times higher than if he had been driving at 30 miles an hour.
The fiscal added: “The risk of death was significantly or materially higher than it would have been had he been complying with the speed limit.”
The family of Margaret, who worked as a carer, announced in August this year they are taking legal action against the police over her death.
At that time a family statement read: “Every day we have mourned the loss of our mum, but we continue to try to keep her memory alive by living with the kindness, warmth and positivity she shared with those around her.
Murdo Macleod KC, defending, said Hamill, of Strathaven, expressed “profound and genuine remorse”.
The advocate stated: “He has asked me to express his sorrow and regret to the family. Margaret was clearly a beloved mother and family member whose loss has been felt deeply.
“After the collision Mr Hamill did everything he could to save her life but, devastatingly, it wasn’t enough as he frantically administered CPR.”
Sheriff Gallacher, who was given victim impact statements from two of Margaret’s children, deferred sentence until next month for background reports and an electronic tagging assessment.
Hamill, who has a conviction from 2014 for using a phone while driving, was disqualified from driving with immediate effect. The sheriff continued his bail.
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