Police officer, 32, killed mother-of-three, 58, after he struck her whereas dashing in his patrol van
A police officer has admitted killing a woman after he struck her while speeding in his patrol van.
PC Jamie Hamill, 32, was driving a Ford Transit when he hit and fatally injured mother Margaret McCarron, 58, in Motherwell in September 2021.
Mrs McCarron suffered severe chest and neck injuries and died soon after arriving at hospital.
At Hamilton Sheriff Court yesterday Hamill, of Strathaven, Lanarkshire, admitted causing death by careless driving.
Prosecutors said he was driving at 39mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Mrs McCarron as she crossed Merry Street near her home to visit a nearby garage.
The court heard Hamill had been pursuing a car with his van’s blue lights on as it flagged up as not having insurance.
However, he lost sight of it and then headed towards the owner’s address in Belshill. But as he made his way through Motherwell, having switched off the emergency lights, he hit Mrs McCarron at around 8.15pm.
Depute fiscal Niall MacLeod said: ‘The accused got out of the van to help, he gave her CPR, radioed for help and was heard saying, ‘Someone walked in front of the van’.’
Margaret McCarron suffered severe chest and neck injuries and died soon after arriving at hospital after being hit by a police vehicle in Motherwell in 2021
PC Jamie Hamill was speeding in a marked Ford transit van when he hit and killed Mrs McCarron (file image)
The court was told Mrs McCarron was drinking before the accident but her husband denied she had been drunk.
The prosecutor said Hamill was ‘visibly upset’ and that experts had agreed the lights from oncoming cars could have impacted his ability to see Mrs McCarron on the road.
In a statement the McCarron family said: ‘We welcome the conviction but remain frustrated it has taken this long. The officer could have admitted his guilt far earlier and saved our family from the added trauma of unnecessary delays.’
Sheriff Louise Gallacher deferred sentence on Hamill until December 18 and continued bail. He was disqualified from driving in the meantime.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: ‘We are aware of the outcome in court, and the matter will be considered by the Professional Standards Department for misconduct proceedings.’
