Drug driver hit pedestrian on hard shoulder of M8 near Harthill

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A man suffered "catastrophic" injuries when a van driver who'd taken drugs crashed into him on the hard shoulder of the M8 near Harthill.David Nicolson, 36, has now been warned to expect a prison sentence following the incident on October 17, 2022.Nicolson, of New Inchinnan Road, Paisley, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court.He admitted causing serious injury to Ryan Docherty by driving dangerously with at least four times the permitted amount of ketamine in his system.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The court heard the victim suffered a brain injury and skull, facial, rib and spinal fractures.He spent months in hospital undergoing surgery, including facial reconstruction, and rehabilitation.Lewis Devoy, prosecuting, said the crash happened around 3.45pm.

Mr Docherty, a roofer, and two colleagues were returning home after working in Edinburgh.He was driving the works van westbound and pulled on to the hard shoulder for a toilet stop.He was standing beside the van when he was hit.Nicolson was alone in a Renault Trafic van and was also driving west.Mr Devoy told the court: "The accused allowed his van to drift on to the hard shoulder.

It collided with the back of the stationary van and also struck Mr Docherty who was propelled into the air for a distance of 15 metres before coming to rest on the