Jailed, lorry driver who killed mum-to-be nurse, 41, in horrific motorway collision
By JAMES MULHOLLAND
Published: 20:56, 25 April 2025 | Updated: 20:56, 25 April 2025
A lorry driver who killed a heavily pregnant nurse in a horror crash has been jailed.
Trevor Norgate was locked up for two years and eight months for the smash on the M8 in December 2023.
The 58-year-old was behind the wheel of his HGV when it drifted onto the hard shoulder where Evelyn Brown, 41, had stopped in her Kia Sorento.
The High Court in Edinburgh[1] heard how footage of the smash, near Hermiston Gait, in Edinburgh, was captured on Norgate's dash cam.
Ms Brown - known as Eve - passed away from her injuries. She was 34 weeks pregnant at time and her unborn baby did not survive either.
Prosecutors stated Norgate, of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, had 'allowed himself to become distracted' prior to the collision although it is not known how.
He appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow last month and pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Judge Lord Armstrong deferred sentence for reports on Norgate's background after hearing how the accused already had six points on his licence. He was given them for using a mobile phone while driving.
Evelyn Brown, 41, was killed when her car was struck by a HGV on the hard shoulder of the M8
Lorry driver Trevor Norgate was locked up for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving
Yesterday, Norgate's defence advocate David Nicolson KC told Lord Armstrong about how his client was 'utterly devastated' about the loss of life.
However, Lord Armstrong told Norgate that he needed to go to prison for his crimes.
He said: 'No sentence that I can impose can in any sense be a measure of the value of the lives that have been lost nor provide a comfort to the family whose lives have been devastated.
'Their lives have been changed radically for the worst.'
At earlier proceedings, prosecutor Jennifer Cameron told how Ms Brown was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK in 2015.
She already had two young children at the time of the crash and worked as an agency nurse for a company called Medline.
She had not long finished a 12-hour shift at East Lothian Community Hospital, in Haddington, when tragedy struck.
Miss Cameron said the mother had texted her sister to say she was on her way home.
Norgate was driving his haulage firm HGV having started work at 4am that day.
The court went on to be shown harrowing footage of the collision.
Ms Brown's car had been stationary on the hard shoulder at the time with its lights on.
Miss Cameron said: 'The HGV began to veer from the lane onto the hard shoulder.
'The vehicle drifted over a period of between seven to eight seconds with no corrective action being taken or braking to alter the course of travel.
'The lorry travelled on the hard shoulder for approximately 88.5 metres until the point of impact with the rear of Evelyn Brown vehicle.
'It is noted there is no sound or exclamation within the cab (of the lorry) immediately before impact confirming Norgate, at that time, did not have his eyes on the road.'
A passing doctor stopped to give an unresponsive Ms Brown first aid and paramedics tried to help at the scene, but she died after suffering fatal neck and chest injuries.
Ms Brown, also of Bellshill, lived with her wheelchair-bound mother at the time.
Her two children now stay with their father, but return to visit their grandmother on a weekly basis.
Miss Cameron said: 'The family have felt the loss keenly.
Miss Brown's mother has been extremely distressed since and has not felt able to attend court.
'The children, on family visits, often ask when their mum is going to come home from work.'
On Friday, Mr Nicolson told the court that his client was a first offender who was sorry for his actions.
He said: 'He remains mystified as to what caused the collision.
'He is utterly devastated.
He's a broken man.'
Lord Armstrong also banned Norgate from driving for four years and eight months.
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