Four years’ jail for lorry driver who fell asleep and killed man in Fife layby

A lorry driver who killed a fellow motorist moments after falling asleep at the wheel has been jailed for four years.

Ian Thorburn, 53, did not pull over after his truck collided with Robert MacLellan, 65, on the A92 dual carriageway near Cowdenbeath on May 19.

The High Court in Edinburgh previously heard how stunned drivers gave chase to Thorburn after he continued on his way.

But Thorburn failed to brake or give the horrified eye witnesses any impression he was going to pull over for them and only stopped when tracked down by police.

Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin told the court his client regretted his actions and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Passing sentence, Lady Wise told Thorburn that if he hadn’t pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, she would have sentenced him to six years.

She banned Thorburn from driving for 10 years and told him he would have to resit his driving test at the end of his ban.