Police officer who killed mother-of-three while speeding in patrol van dodges jail

A police officer who killed a mother-of-three whilst speeding in his patrol van has avoided a jail sentence.

PC Jamie Hamill, 32, struck Margaret McCarron in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, whilst driving at 39mph in a 30mph zone in September 2021.

Hamill appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving – and has now been ordered to complete 225 hours of unpaid work.

As part of his sentence, handed down by Sheriff Louise Gallacher, Hamill was also disqualified from driving for 21 months.

The officer was driving a marked Ford Transit van when the fatal collision occurred.

Hamill and a colleague were on patrol when they spotted a vehicle they believed had no valid insurance.

After losing sight of the car, they decided to visit the owner in Bellshill to question them about the insurance.

The collision occurred around 8.15pm while Hamill was driving through Motherwell without blue lights activated, the court heard.

McCarron was struck whilst crossing the street and was rushed to University Hospital Wishaw.

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She died shortly after arriving at hospital, with a post-mortem examination recording severe chest and neck injuries as the cause of death.

Prosecutors reported that Hamill was “visibly upset” following the incident and tested negative for both alcohol and drugs.

McCarron, 58, was a mother to three children and grandmother to six grandchildren.

She was described as a dedicated carer who devoted her life to her family and caring for others.

Sheriff Gallacher said: “It is evident from the victim impact statements that the death of Mrs McCarron has left a huge void. She was a carer who dedicated her life to her family and caring for others.”

Her children have since launched legal action against Police Scotland following her death.

Hamill’s defence counsel, Murdo MacLeod KC, told the court his client had shown “genuine remorse” over the incident.

But the McCarron family said the officer “could have admitted his guilt far earlier”.

The court heard that Hamill’s unpaid work requirement had been reduced from 300 hours to 225 hours owing to his guilty plea.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston confirmed the case would now face further scrutiny.

“The matter will now be considered by the Professional Standards Department for misconduct proceedings,” he said.