Driver who left couple in hospital for five months with horrendous injuries jailed

A driver who left a married couple with horrendous, life-changing injuries in a head-on smash was jailed over the horror crash today.

Scott Clark left Iain Downie and Julie Downie with multiple fractures and internal bleeding - and spending a total of five-and-a-half months in hospital.

The 38-year-old overtook another car in his Seat Leon Cupra when it was unsafe to do so.

He did not see the Ford Fiesta being driven by Iain Downie, which was in a hidden dip, coming towards him.

The driver Clark was overtaking tried to warn him the Downies were headed straight for him.

But he continued to overtake and ploughed into them in Glennifer Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire, on June 13, 2023.

Mr Downie suffered a broken collar bone, nine broken toes, two broken wrists, a broken leg, two broken vertebrae in his neck, a broken arm and broken ribs.

He also suffered internal bleeding and organ damage and medics had to carry out surgery to reconstruct his intestines.

He spent 94 days in hospital, between the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, in Glasgow, and Crosshouse Hospital, near Kilmarnock.

Mrs Downie suffered a broken neck and sternum and fractures to her face and suffered internal bleeding.

She also suffered a bruised lung, severed small bowel, a large abdominal haematoma and tears to her spleen.

She also suffered spine damage and underwent a number of different surgeries, spending six weeks in hospital.

Paisley Sheriff Court was told the injuries have affected their ability to work and live normally and interact with their daughter.

The court heard the Downies remember being in the car before the smash and then waking up in hospital.

Clark had denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving and went on trial earlier this year.

The jury found him guilty of the alternative charge of causing serious injury by careless driving and sentencing was adjourned for background reports to be prepared.

When he returned to the dock today, Friday, March 6, 2026, to be sentenced, defence solicitor advocate Gary Miller said he had shown "genuine remorse" for his actions.

He said it had come about due to "a few seconds of a misjudgement" and added: "He is deeply remorseful. He thinks about it daily. 

"This is a heartbreaking and tragic case. He has shown signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in respect of this matter."

Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: "Nothing I do and nothing I say today can alleviate the pain and suffering, which is sure to be lifelong, which you inflicted on Mr and Mrs Downie.

"Their ability to work, their standard of life and how they interact with their young daughter have all been sadly, greatly, affected by your actions.

"It should have been obvious to a competent and careful driver that the manoeuvre was unsafe.

"The harm that your driving caused was immense.

"The only sentence appropriate is one of imprisonment."

He jailed Clark, of Paisley, for 15 months and banned him from driving for three years. 

Clark's partner and mother began sobbing loudly when the sentence was delivered, and his mum shrieked: "Oh my God. Don't take him away, please."

She was then helped from the court by his sister, who had also gone to court with him.