Renfrewshire man pleads guilty to knocking down and killing dad-of-two
Norbert Kas lost control of his BMW hitting Neil Farr as he worked on the road at the Lomondgate roundabout
A Renfrewshire man’s pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Norbert Kas hit 59-year-old highway worker – and dad of two - Neil Farr as he worked on the A82 in Dumbarton.
Mr Farr's four colleagues were also badly hurt in the incident in May 2022.
Kas, who’s 46, appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today and is due to be sentenced next month.
Earlier that day, a Mercedes driver had lost control of his car at the same roundabout and hit a light column which fell on impact.
Prosecutor Erin Campbell told the court: "It is this earlier collision which lead to Neil Farr and his colleagues attending on behalf of Amey.
“The purpose was to make safe the falling light.”
Mr Farr and his colleague Andrew Taylor arrived first. Colleagues Paul Jordan, Keith McFadzean and Jamie Hernon then turned up.
Kas meantime had been travelling from Glasgow with his partner on way to check out a joinery job.
One motorist was aware of Kas going past him on the A82.
Miss Campbell then explained: “He negotiated the roundabout too fast for the weather conditions.
“As he exited, he accelerated and lost control of the vehicle which began to wobble.
“Kas could not regain control - this resulted in the car sliding, mounting the grass verge at speed and colliding with Mr Farr and his colleagues, who were standing close to one another working on the light column.”
Some of the men were flung onto other parts of the verge. Mr Farr was trapped under the BMW.
Passers-by – including a nurse – stopped to help before mercy crews arrived.
Mr Farr went into cardiac arrest and was described as being in a “critical condition”.
He was freed from beneath the car, but passed away due head and chest injuries.
The much-loved dad is survived by his partner of more than 20 years and his two sons.
Miss Campbell also detailed how the other men were affected by the incident.
Mr Jordan was unable to walk for up to five months following surgery on leg fractures.
Mr Hernon was off work for 10 weeks and Mr McFadzean seven recovering from their injuries.
Mr Taylor suffered muscle and ligament damage.
The advocate depute added all had been left with “significant psychological distress” from what happened.
Crash investigators meantime found the tread of a tyre on Kas's car was below the legal limit and could have contributed to the collision.
Allan MacLeod, defending, said Kas was “extremely sorry” and that he had also tried “as best he could” that night to help the men he had hit.
Lord Armstrong adjourned for reports until August 5 in Edinburgh.
The judge told Kas: “You now stand convicted of this grave charge in what is a tragic case.”
Kas was disqualified from driving meantime.