'˜Fireball' crash driver gets road ban

A van man who caused a fatal fireball crash on the M8 Glasgow to Edinburgh motorway has been banned from the road.
Glasgow High Court. Picture: John DevlinGlasgow High Court. Picture: John Devlin
Glasgow High Court. Picture: John Devlin

Delivery driver Alexander Cassidy pleaded guilty yesterday to driving without due care and attention on July 20, 2015, causing 49-year-old Wayne Strickland’s death.

Judge Lord Clark disqualified him from driving with immediate effect and called for a social work background report before he passes sentence at the High Court in Glasgow on April 19.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cassidy, 29, from Kilmarnock, admitted failing to observe slow moving and stationary traffic which had tailed back onto the inside lane because of road works on the A899 near Livingston, West Lothian.

The High Court at Livingston was told his Mercedes Sprinter van slammed into the back of Mr Strickland’s Peugeot car, shunting it into the vehicle in front.

Mr Strickland, who was severely injured, was trapped in his car which almost immediately exploded into flames. Advocate depute Jane Farquhar, prosecuting, said the fire “consumed his car and its contents”.