Killer van driver spared jail as victim’s forgiving family ‘bear him no malice’
A VAN driver who killed another motorist in a fatal fireball crash has walked free from court after his victim’s family said they bore him “no malice”.
A van driver who killed another motorist in a fatal fireball crash has walked free from court
Alexander Cassidy ploughed into Wayne Strickland’s Peugeot on the M8 after failing to spot slow and stationary traffic.
The 49-year-old deceased – a father-of-two from Inverkeithing, Fife – ended up trapped in his car which then burst into flames.
Cassidy yesterday appeared at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
Before passing sentence, judge Lord Clark revealed how the victim’s forgiving family wanted the 29-year-old to know “that they bear no malice” towards him.
The judge said he had decided not to jail Cassidy and, instead, told him to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community payback order.
Alexander Cassidy ploughed into Wayne Strickland’s Peugeot on the M8
He added: “I accept – as does Mr Strickland’s family – that you have shown genuine remorse for your actions. Although of little, if any, consolation to the family, you will require to live with the consequences for the rest of your life.”
I tried to get him out but the door was jammed. It’s all my fault
Mr Strickland died after Cassidy’s Mercedes van slammed into his car on the M8 motorway near Livingston, West Lothian, in July 2015, shunting it into the vehicle in front.
Cassidy rushed out to help but had to be dragged back amid fears Mr Strickland’s car would explode.
Cassidy rushed out to help but had to be dragged back amid fears Mr Strickland’s car would explode
Wayne Strickland’s family said they bore no ill will to Mr Cassidy
He was heard to say: “I tried to get him out but the door was jammed. It’s all my fault. If I’d been able to stop, it would not have happened.”
The victim – a business adviser with West Lothian Council – suffered catastrophic injuries including severe burns.
Cassidy, of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, was also banned from the road for four years.