A 100mph driver who caused a five-car motorway pile-up wandered off to a service station as firefighters fought to free casualties from the wreckage. Donald Gunn abandoned his hired BMW vehicle then got a taxi to his sister’s home where he fell asleep, a court has heard.
A woman suffered a broken ankle and serious injuries to her mouth when the car she was in collided with two other vehicles, leaving her trapped inside. Gunn, 36, of Shettleston, Glasgow, admitted driving dangerously on the M74 southbound in Lanarkshire on December 13, 2020.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard multiple collisions happened five minutes after Gunn was seen undertaking another car at high speed in wet conditions. Dunn drove up fast behind another car and his BMW struck the other vehicle, despite the female driver’s efforts to switch lanes.
Paul Jamieson, prosecuting, said: “This caused her vehicle to spin out of control several times before stopping. Her vehicle was then hit by another car whose driver did not have time to react. That car was struck by a fourth vehicle.
“One car flipped on to its roof before hitting the central reservation. The three occupants were trapped inside. Meanwhile, the accused’s car had spun out of control and was struck by another vehicle.”
Three women were taken to hospital. Two had minor injuries but a 45-year-old required surgery on her broken ankle. She also lost two teeth and faces an £8,000 dental bill.
Mr Jamieson told the court: “There were no other injuries, but all vehicles involved were significantly damaged. Debris was scattered across all four lanes and the motorway was closed for three hours. Witnesses saw the accused and his girlfriend walking away from the area towards Bothwell motorway services. Gunn phoned the police the next day.
"He said he had panicked and left the scene. He got a taxi to his sister’s address before falling asleep. All witnesses were of the opinion that the accused had been driving far too fast. The car hire company was able to show that in the five minutes before the crash his average speed was 100 miles an hour.”
Defence agent Ian Moir said Gunn, who runs a roofing company, was “very much aware of how serious this matter is”. Sheriff Liam Murphy deferred sentence until next month for background reports and allowed Gunn to remain on bail.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
-
Iconic nightclub dubbed 'best in Scotland' honoured in artist's seaside mural
-
First picture of young mum killed in horror A90 crash as tributes paid to 'amazing woman'
-
Sunbed wars as British holidaymakers fight for poolside spot at dawn in Tenerife hotel
-
JustEat 'nightmare' as man charged £249 delivery fee on £11 Greggs order
-
Jilted woman takes out full page newspaper ad exposing cheating boyfriend
