A LORRY driver has admitted death by dangerous driving after falling asleep in his cab and knocking down a motorist who was standing in a lay-by on the A92 near Crossgates.

Ian Thorburn (53), of Kirknewton in West Lothian, drove off without stopping after his truck collided with Robert MacLellan (65) on the dual carriage on 19th May.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Tuesday how stunned motorists who witnessed the incident gave chase but the lorry driver ignored them and continued driving.

Paramedics who attended the crash scene found that Mr MacLellan’s abdomen was split open and that his intestines had spilled out onto the roadway.

Eyewitnesses spoke of a “judder” as the lorry struck him and a boot flying into the air while CCTV images showed his body landing on the lay-by. He died at the scene.

When police arrested Thorburn and asked what happened, he said, “I would like to say but I have been advised to say no comment.” In Court he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at an accident scene and failing to report the incident.

Prosecuting, Alex Prentice said, “The guilty plea is on the basis that the accused drove when he knew he was too tired to drive, that he fell asleep losing control of his vehicle causing it to strike the deceased and thus caused his death by dangerous driving.

“He was aware that he had collided with a person but he did not stop to provide his details nor did he report the matter to the police as soon as reasonably practicable.” The accident took place on the eastbound section of the A92 between Crossgates and Cowdenbeath, just after 1.15pm.

Mr MacLellan, of Tain in Ross-shire, had earlier stopped driving and was standing in the lay-by.

Eye witnesses told police they were driving behind Thorburn’s Mercedes flatbed lorry when they saw it drifting towards the lay-by.

Mr Prentice said, “Leonide McGuinness (a witness) was then aware of a loud thud and saw the lorry judder as it collided with something and they both saw debris including a person’s boot being thrown onto the carriage way.

“The aftermath of the collision was filmed on CCTV and shows the deceased landing on the lay by.

“Various motorists stopped to try and assist and the emergency services were contacted.

“The accused’s vehicle at no time had the brakes applied or gave any indication that it was going to stop.” Ms McGuinness followed the lorry, noted its registration number and overtook Thorburn but he was “staring ahead and would not look at them”.

Mr Prentice added, “They both gained the impression that he was trying to ignore the fact that he had been involved in a collision.” Paramedics at the scene pronounced Mr MacLellan dead at 1.26pm.

“They saw that the male’s abdomen was slit open and his intestines had spilled out onto the roadway,” he added.

When Thorburn went home, he didn’t tell his partner that he had struck Mr MacLellan.

Mr Prentice said, “The accused returned home and his partner felt that he was quiet and that something was wrong.

“He stated to her he had a headache and that he had been falling asleep during the day whilst driving and whilst on the A92, he had fallen asleep and his wing mirror had collided with the mirror of a lorry parked in a lay by.” When police traced Thorburn, they found evidence the vehicle had struck Mr MacLellan.

Mr Prentice added, “Yellow streaks were apparent on the passenger door just above waist height and were assessed as having been caused by the deceased’s high visibility vest.

“On examining the underside small flesh masses were found to be stuck onto the vehicle.” He said that Mr MacLellan’s family have been grieving for the loss of their loved one, “He is survived by a son and a daughter and four grandchildren aged between 10 and one.

“His family describe him as a caring father and grandfather. They have all found it extremely hard to come to terms with his death.” Thorburn was arrested the day after the accident and told police, “I would like to say but I have been advised to say no comment.” Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin told the court that his client regretted his actions and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

The court was told Thorburn had no previous convictions and judge Lady Wise deferred sentence for reports until 20th November. He was also remanded in custody.