Pensioner hit by car whilst woman was texting

Posted: February 9, 2015

Posted in: Pedestrian Injuries Road Traffic Accidents Wrongful & Accidental Death 

A motorist that knocked down a pedestrian in Aberdeen in 2012 has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. 21-year-old Rachel Forsyth, from Westhill, had been accused of killing 79-year-old Lillian Morrison as a result of driving while using her mobile phone. Despite denying the charges, she was found guilty at the High Court in Aberdeen last week.

The accident happened on 27 December 2012 on Aberdeen’s Queen’s Road. Ms Forsyth had been on her way to work at a squash club when she decided to send her mum a text saying that she had walked the dog and gone to work. She told the jury that she was driving at the 30mph speed limit at the time, and that she did not realise that she had knocked down a pedestrian until her windscreen smashed.

Found Mrs Morrison’s body lying on the ground

She told the court that she turned off the road, parked her car and phoned her dad while sitting in the vehicle. When he failed to answer his phone, she ran up to the pedestrian crossing and found Mrs Morrison’s body lying on the ground. It was heard in court that other motorists stopped and an ambulance was called to the scene immediately.

The jury of eight women and six men took over an hour to conclude that Ms Forsyth was guilty. Lord Turnbull deferred the sentence until 27 February for background reports.

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