A truck driver responsible for the tragic motorway crash that claimed the life of UK-based Nigerian nurse, Evelyn Brown, along with her unborn child, is now facing a prison sentence.
Trevor Norgate, 58, was driving his heavy goods vehicle (HGV) when it veered onto the hard shoulder of the M8 westbound near Hermiston Gait, Edinburgh, on December 18, 2023. There, it collided with Brown’s stationary Kia Sorento, fatally injuring her.
Dashcam footage captured the horrific moment, which was later presented in court. Prosecutors revealed that Norgate, from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, had previously accumulated six penalty points on his licence for using a mobile phone while driving.
Appearing at the High Court in Glasgow, Norgate pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. The court heard that he had allowed himself to become distracted and failed to notice Brown’s vehicle in time to prevent the crash. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing next month.
A Life Cut Short
Evelyn Brown, fondly known as Eve, was 41 years old and 34 weeks pregnant at the time of the accident. She had just finished a grueling 12-hour shift at East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington before heading home.
Born in Nigeria, Brown moved to the UK in 2015. She worked as an agency nurse with Medline and was a dedicated mother to two young daughters, aged three and four. Before the crash, she had texted her sister to let her know she was on her way home.
The Fatal Collision
At the time of the accident, Norgate had started his shift at 4 a.m. and was driving his haulage firm’s HGV. Although he had complied with rest regulations, his truck was seen on dashcam footage moving in a slow, continuous drift onto the hard shoulder before the impact. Prosecutors stated there were no signs of him attempting to avoid the collision.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after Norgate immediately called 999. A passing doctor attempted first aid, and fire crews worked to free Brown from the wreckage. However, she suffered fatal neck and chest injuries, and both she and her unborn baby died at the scene.
During police questioning, Norgate claimed he had shifted lanes due to an obstacle on the road. However, prosecutors stated that dashcam footage did not support his account.
Brown, who also lived in Bellshill, was caring for her wheelchair-bound mother at the time of her passing.
With sentencing set for next month, Norgate faces a lengthy jail term for the devastating loss of two lives.
