A 37-year-old man, Gary Gallacher, killed James Craig, a grandfather of three, in a hit-and-run incident whilst driving a hired Mercedes under the influence of alcohol and using his mobile phone. Mr Craig, who was walking home from his local pub in Hamilton on 27 October 2024, was struck by the vehicle and died at the scene. The case raises serious questions about how someone with Gallacher's extensive criminal history was able to be driving, given his previous convictions for kidnap, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Gallacher had consumed beer and tonic wine and was distracted by his phone, showing something to a passenger, at the moment of collision. The impact was substantial enough to throw Mr Craig onto the kerb, yet Gallacher failed to stop, falsely claiming he was evading police. He remained at large for approximately four months before being arrested in February 2025 for an unrelated matter. Gallacher pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was remanded in custody, with sentencing deferred to a later date. His family expressed their devastation and questioned how such a dangerous individual came to be in a position to cause this tragedy.