A bin lorry driver who caused the death of an 11-year-old boy by failing to keep a proper lookout as he pulled out of a golf club car park has been sentenced to unpaid work and a driving ban. Ross Wallace, 29, struck Thomas Wong at the exit of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society car park in Cramond, Edinburgh, on 1 March last year.
Wallace, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, had pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention. The charge also included that he had used a mobile phone while reversing the vehicle on repeated occasions earlier that day, although the court heard this had no bearing on the collision.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Alistair Noble said Wallace had caused the “tragic death” of Thomas by failing to look to his left as he exited the car park, a view that was “restricted by foliage”. The sheriff noted the “devastating impact” on the family, who provided seven victim impact statements describing Thomas as a “much-loved child”.
Defence advocate Emma Toner said her client, a father of four, had shown “very clear remorse” and accepted responsibility, adding: “If he could turn back the clock he would of course but that cannot be done.”
Prosecutor Anna Robertson said dashcam footage showed Wallace looking continuously to his right while failing to check for vulnerable road users to his left. The bin lorry’s speed was 7.5 mph at impact, and Wallace did not react, continuing to drive south on Whitehouse Road. A police investigation found that Thomas had also failed to make sufficient observations for vehicles exiting the car park.
Wallace was sentenced to 133 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months.
