A 100mph driver who caused a horrific five-car motorway pile-up has been jailed for 18 months and banned from driving. Roofing firm boss Donald Gunn wandered off from the wreckage to a service station as firefighters fought to free casualties.
He then got a taxi to his sister's home where he fell asleep, a court heard. A woman suffered a broken ankle and serious injuries to her mouth when the car she was in collided with two other vehicles, leaving her trapped inside.
Gunn, 36, of Glasgow, admitted driving dangerously on the M74 in Lanarkshire on December 13, 2020. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard on Monday that multiple collisions happened five minutes after Gunn was seen undertaking another car at high speed in wet conditions.
Dunn drove up fast behind another car and his hired BMW struck it despite the female driver's efforts to switch lanes.
Paul Jamieson, prosecuting, said: "This caused her vehicle to spin out of control several times before stopping. Her vehicle was then hit by another car whose driver did not have time to react. That car was struck by a fourth vehicle.
"One car flipped on to its roof before hitting the central reservation. The three occupants were trapped inside. Meanwhile, the accused's car had spun out of control and was struck by another vehicle."
Three women were taken to hospital. Two had minor injuries but a 45-year-old required surgery on her broken ankle. She also lost two teeth and faces an £8,000 dental bill.
Mr Jamieson told the court : "There were no other injuries, but all vehicles involved were significantly damaged. Debris was scattered across all four lanes and the motorway was closed for three hours.
"Witnesses saw the accused and his girlfriend walking away from the area towards Bothwell motorway services. Gunn phoned the police the next day. He said he had panicked and left the scene. He got a taxi to his sister's address before falling asleep.
"All witnesses were of the opinion that the accused had been driving far too fast. The car hire company was able to show that in the five minutes before the crash his average speed was 100 miles an hour."
Defence agent Ann Ritchie said the dad of two had been “showing off” to his girlfriend and offered “no excuse” for his driving. She added that Gunn, who earns up to £2,000 a week, employs five people in his business.
Jailing Gunn, Sheriff Liam Murphy said: “You were significantly over the speed limit, particularly given the prevailing conditions. It was deliberate and significantly dangerous. There was a serious injury and it’s only good fortune that the consequences were not even worse”
Gunn was also banned from driving for 45 months and ordered to resit his test.
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