The life of UK-based Nigerian nurse Evelyn Brown and her unborn baby was cut short in a devastating motorway crash caused by a distracted truck driver.
Evelyn, 41, was just weeks away from welcoming her child when her vehicle, parked on the hard shoulder of the M8 near Hermiston Gait in Edinburgh, was struck by 58-year-old truck driver Trevor Norgate. The impact was fatal.
Norgate, who already had six penalty points for using a mobile phone while driving, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow. He now faces jail time when sentenced next month.
The Final Moments
Evelyn, known fondly as Eve, had just finished a grueling 12-hour nursing shift at East Lothian Community Hospital. She had texted her sister, letting her know she was on her way home to Bellshill, where she lived with her wheelchair-bound mother and her two little daughters, aged three and four.
Tragically, she never made it home.
Dashcam footage from Norgate’s vehicle captured the chilling scene—Evelyn’s car was stationary with its lights on when his HGV veered onto the hard shoulder, crashing into her. Prosecutors revealed that Norgate had “allowed himself to become distracted,” failing to notice her vehicle in time.
A passing doctor attempted to save Evelyn, while firefighters worked to free her from the mangled wreck. But it was too late—she and her unborn baby were pronounced dead at the scene.
No Excuse for the Tragedy
Despite Norgate’s claim that he had swerved for “something on the road,” prosecutors found no evidence to support this. Instead, the footage revealed a slow and steady drift onto the hard shoulder, suggesting pure negligence.
Now in custody, Norgate awaits sentencing, but for Evelyn’s grieving family—her young children, mother, and loved ones—no punishment will ever bring back what was lost.
A dedicated nurse, a mother, and a life filled with promise—gone in an instant due to a moment of carelessness.
