An elderly man who was struck and fatally injured while crossing the road days before Christmas was killed by a truck driver who had taken a significant amount of cocaine, the High Court in Glasgow has heard.
Edward Feelie, 54, from Blantyre, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after he ran a red light and hit 84-year-old Robert Shirra-Gibb on Glasgow Road in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, on the evening of December 19, 2023.
Mr Shirra-Gibb was rushed to hospital with catastrophic injuries but died the following day.
Red Light Ignored, Victim Struck
The court heard that Feelie, driving a flatbed Isuzu lorry, failed to slow or stop at a red traffic signal as Mr Shirra-Gibb crossed the road. Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel said the light had been red for 11 seconds before the crash, while the victim had been on the crossing for approximately seven seconds before impact.
Despite crossing the eastbound carriageway safely, Mr Shirra-Gibb was struck as he stepped onto the westbound lane — directly into the path of Feelie’s lorry.
“He appeared to fail to slow or react to a red light as well as the presence of Mr Shirra-Gibb upon crossing,” Ms Dalziel told the court.
The elderly man suffered a devastating combination of injuries — including multiple fractures to his pelvis, chest, and back — as well as a bleed on the brain.
Driver Had Six Times the Legal Limit of Cocaine
Following the crash, police took a blood sample from Feelie, which revealed 67 milligrams of cocaine per litre of blood — more than six times the legal limit of 10mg.
Dashcam footage of the incident, shown in court, reportedly demonstrated that Feelie’s vehicle did not make any attempt to swerve or brake until the moment of impact.
Previous Road Offences and Immediate Shock
Feelie, a traffic management operative, was described as “shocked and agitated” after the collision. The court heard he got out of his vehicle immediately but initially appeared unaware that Mr Shirra-Gibb was lying critically injured on the road being assisted by bystanders.
Feelie also had two previous road traffic convictions, though the details were not disclosed in court.
Family Left Devastated
The victim, Robert Shirra-Gibb, was described by family and friends as a beloved member of the Blantyre community. A photograph released by Police Scotland shows him smiling gently in what appears to be a pub or restaurant, wearing a maroon shirt.
His death just six days before Christmas left his family “utterly devastated”, prosecutors said.
Sentencing to Follow
Defence solicitor Marco Guarino told the court that Feelie had been “very severely affected” by what had happened and acknowledged the pain caused to the Shirra-Gibb family.
Presiding judge Lord Arthurson remanded Feelie in custody and adjourned sentencing until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The fatal crash has reignited concerns around drug-driving and road safety enforcement, particularly in built-up residential areas.
