Mum killed after man fell asleep at wheel

Court finds driver guilty of causing death

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A MAN who knocked down a young mum after he fell asleep at the wheel of his car has been convicted of causing her death.

William Duncan, 57, of Aberdeen, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 31-year-old mum, Doreen McGregor, was tending to her sick son on the hard shoulder of the M80 outside Stirling last July when she was knocked down.

Her husband Mark, 31, was badly injured.

The family, of Dalgety Bay, Fife, had been on their way to a camping holiday.

The trial heard that Duncan, who had suffered from sleeping problems, nodded off and drifted across the motorway before hitting the couple.

Painter and decorator Duncan, of Corndavon Terrace, Mastrick, Aberdeen, will be sentenced later this month.

Mrs McGregor’s mother, Doreen Vaughan, said after the jury’s verdict that justice had been served, but that nothing could bring back her daughter.

She added: “Mark now has to look after three children on his own. It is just so sad.”

Mr McGregor and their children, Sean, 10, Connor, 7, and Caitlin, 5, had been heading for the Dumfries area on July 15 last year.

They pulled on to the hard shoulder of the M80 around 11am when Connor felt sick.

At the same time, Duncan was travelling for a summer break in Glasgow.

The court heard he fell asleep and his Vauxhall Astra careered on to the hard shoulder, where the couple had got out of their Ford Focus.

Mrs McGregor was killed and her husband suffered multiple injuries.

All three children were treated for minor injuries.

During the trial, Duncan admitted he had been tired and that a “family had been destroyed” because he had been driving when he should not have been.