Driver of faulty car jailed for killing pensioner on B981 in Kirkcaldy
A driver who killed a pensioner in Fife while on the phone behind the wheel of a faulty car has been jailed for three years.
William Gall knocked down Thomas Beall, 81, on the B981/Dunnikier Way in Kirkcaldy on 12 November 2018. The headlights of the 24 year-old's Ford Focus were not working due to its battery having very low power. He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Mr Beall suffered brain damage as well as fractures to both legs and his pelvis and was taken to the Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Lord Matthews told father-of-three Gall: "You were well aware that the headlights were out. "Your vehicle had bulbs not suitable for the car, which you had secured with cardboard. "Your dashboard was not working, so you could not see how fast you were going." Pizza delivery driver Gall, from Dunfermline, was also banned from driving for six-and-a-half years. A previous hearing was told Gall had agreed to give a friend a lift shortly before the fatal collision. When they arrived, Gall had to charge his car's battery using another man's moped. He headed to Kirkcaldy with two passengers - before "several warning lamps" lit up on his dashboard. Gall said: "That's the battery playing up again." He then called another friend while driving and put the phone on loud speaker. Lack of lights The car's headlights soon went out, leading to warnings from other concerned motorists. Pensioner Mr Beall - who used a walking aid - had just left the local Asda. He was at a pelican crossing at about 20:30 as Gall headed towards the area. Gall again ignored another motorist's worries about his lack of lights. One of his passengers saw Mr Beall crossing the road. Prosecutor Mark Mohammed said: "He shouted to Gall: 'William, look up' as he was looking at his dashboard and talking on his mobile phone." Gall slammed on the brakes, but hit the pensioner. Jim Keegan QC, defending, said: "The upshot is that he made a bad decision and continued driving a vehicle that should not have been on the road."