A drunk driver who struck and killed a pedestrian while travelling at 91mph in a 30mph zone has admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Callum Fox, 29, hit Jim Paterson, 63, on Brediland Road, Paisley, in the early hours of 27 November 2022. The father-of-three and grandfather died at the scene.
Fox appeared at the High Court in Glasgow, where he pled guilty and was warned by Judge Lord Cubie that he faces a “substantial prison sentence”.
“Selfish disregard for the road”
The court heard that Fox had been drinking heavily at Lumins Cocktail and Sports Bar in Paisley, consuming six or seven drinks. Despite being described by a friend as “really drunk” and urged not to drive, he got behind the wheel of his high-powered Mercedes AMG A45 to head to a house party in the Foxbar area.
Lord Cubie condemned Fox’s decision-making, saying:
“This was your own selfish disregard for the road for your own convenience and against advice given to you.”
Fox was found to be two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit, with a breath test showing 113mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 50mg.
Fatal impact
As Mr Paterson, a plater and shipyard worker, crossed the road around 12.25am while walking home from a curry night with friends and family, Fox accelerated towards him. Airbag data revealed Fox had increased his speed from 66mph to 91mph in the five seconds before impact.
Witnesses described Fox’s driving as “overtaking at speed,” “driving really fast,” and “swerving all over the road.”
Fox stayed at the scene after the crash and told police: “It was me, I was driving when I hit the guy.”
Mr Paterson suffered catastrophic external and internal injuries and could not be saved by paramedics.
Sentencing to follow
Defence counsel John Scullion KC acknowledged that Fox expects a custodial sentence, telling the court: “My client is under no illusion that he will receive nothing other than custody.”
Sentence was deferred until January at the High Court in Kilmarnock, pending a background report.
Paisley Photographs 