A SAUCHIE man has been convicted of killing a woman by driving into her mobility scooter as she went over a zebra crossing in Alloa.

The tragic incident happened on October 27 of last year before Margaret Lambie sadly passed away two days later at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

James Cook appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Wednesday, September 19, when he admitted causing the death by driving without due care and attention in July.

He had previously sought to take responsibility for the incident in writing earlier this year.

The prosecution told the court that on the day in question Cook, who is 77 years old, approached and stopped at a zebra crossing on Greenside Street, near the junction at Kilncraigs car park.

At 3.10pm Ms Lambie approached the crossing as two witnesses crossed it in the opposite direction. As they made it on to the road, Ms Lambie reached the road.

The two witnesses then heard a “loud crunch” and turned around to see Ms Lambie’s blue mobility scooter lying on road having been struck by Cook’s black Vauxhall Astra.

Both witnesses went to attend to Ms Lambie who was “unconscious, but breathing” as police and ambulance service were called.

Paramedics then attended and observed a wound on the victim’s head and that she was unresponsive.

She was taken to hospital where doctors assessed that she would be “unlikely to survive”.

The 75-year-old, who lived alone, had swelling and a bleed on the brain and died two days later on October 29.

The prosecution lawyer added that the scooter was directly in front of the vehicle and had been assessed as going 4.1mph across the road.

Cook admitted he was the driver and told investigators that he did not see Ms Lambie coming out from behind a bush to cross the road, although a collision report determined that there would have been no obstacles blocking the accused’s sight.

It was also determined that there were no mechanical defects with either vehicle.

The court heard that Cook also had 4mcg of alcohol in his breath, way below the legal limit of 22mcg.

A victim impact statement from a member of her family, of whom there were four in court, was handed to Sheriff John Mundy.

Robert Smith, defending, told the court that he would save his mitigation for when the case recalls after reports are prepared.

Cook, of Branshill Road, Sauchie, will appear again for sentencing on October 18.