A frail pensioner was knocked down and killed by a young woman driver distracted by loud music playing in her car, a court heard yesterday.
John Sangster, 79, from Montrose, was crossing the town’s Baltic Street when he emerged from between two parked cars into the path of care worker Anna McCallum’s Kia Picanto in December 2012.
He hit the windscreen and was thrown over the car, landing on the road behind it.
Forfar Sheriff Court was told subsequent investigation suggested McCallum, 23, was distracted by the music.
After becoming momentarily distracted she was unable to react when the pensioner appeared in the road.
Mr Sangster, who walked with a stoop, suffered a serious head injury after smashing off the windscreen of the car and died three days later in Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital.
McCallum, of Harbour Place, Johnshaven, Aberdeenshire, admitted driving carelessly and causing Mr Sangster’s death on December 1, 2012 .
She also pleaded guilty to failing to keep a lookout for pedestrians and striking Mr Sangster.
She had originally been charged with failing to keep her windscreen clear and driving with obscured vision and no water in her screenwash reservoir but this was removed by the Crown.
Police estimated McCallum was travelling at between 22 and 29 miles per hour at the time.
The low sun was shining directly onto Baltic Street and the accident report said the damp road surface would have caused reflection.
An agreed narrative presented to the court said Mr Sangster caused a large dent in the bonnet of the Kia as he was struck, shattering the windscreen of the car.
He came to rest behind the Kia in the centre of the road.
An ambulance was called and Mr Sangster was treated at the scene before being taken to Ninewells.
The court heard he died from the head injury thre.
The accused was traced sitting on the pavement in what was described as a “greatly distressed state” and admitted to being the driver of the car.
The vehicle was subsequently examined and found to have sustained substantial impact damage.
Investigators also discovered that the volume on the stereo system was turned up high.
There was no evidence of heavy braking at the scene and the distance beyond impact suggested that McCallum had neither seen nor reacted to the deceased prior to impact.
“The conclusion is that the accused was listening to loud music and became momentarily distracted,” read the narrative.
McCallum, who was represented by solicitor Nick Markowski, is a first offender with no driving convictions, the court heard.
Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence on her until December 18 for a social enquiry report to be obtained.
She was disqualified from driving in the interim.