Former police officer killed wife's aunt in head-on crash

A former police officer killed his wife's aunt when he crashed head-on into a van in Ayrshire.

Annie Sinclair, 88, was a passenger in the car driven by Andrew Hyams on the A737 between Kilwinning and Dalry on 9 January 2024.

Ms Sinclair died in hospital later that day. Van driver, Carl Egerton, suffered serious injuries.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Hyams, 62, had "failed to negotiate" a bend. He admitted causing Ms Sinclair's death by by dangerous driving.

Hyams was due to re-marry his ex-wife on the day following the crash, after their divorce three years earlier.

The court heard that the ex-Merseyside Police officer had been driving her aunt to his home in Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

Prosecutor Erin Campbell said: "For reasons unknown, Hyams failed to steer to negotiate a left hand bend.

"He crossed the centre of the road, narrowly missing another vehicle and drove straight into the path of Mr Egerton's van."

Emergency crews arrived at the scene and Mrs Sinclair was stretchered to an ambulance where there was a failed resuscitation attempt.

Ms Campbell added: "It was quickly established that she had sustained significant chest injuries which were not survivable."

She was pronounced dead later that afternoon.

Meanwhile, Mr Egerton was conscious and did not appear to have life-threatening injures but was taken to hospital.

He was found to have suffered a fracture to his sternum as well as cuts and bruises.

Mr Egerton was unable to work for six months and later returned to hospital to have a metal plate fixed to his sternum.

Ian Duguid KC, defending, told the court that his client did later re-marry his wife who thought of Mrs Sinclair as her "favourite relative."

The advocate said that Hyams retired five years before the crash, after 27-years of service with the police.

Mr Duguid said: "He is remorseful for the offence that transpired here and he is sorry."

Judge Lord Mulholland deferred sentencing until next month.