A YOUNG driver was yesterday convicted of causing the death of a 15-year-old schoolgirl on a pedestrian crossing by careless driving.

Kieran Kennedy, 20, from Chapelton, South Lanarkshire, had been on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of causing her death by dangerous driving – but was cleared of that charge.

Kennedy, who was driving his black Volkswagen Sirocco, on the outside lane of the Kingsway, East Kilbride, struck Megan Scott one second after the traffic lights changed from amber to red.

His car smashed into Megan, who was on her phone and wearing headphones, as she crossed the pedestrian crossing at 5.46pm on October 18, 2017.

The jury was shown video footage which showed Kennedy only braking after the traffic lights had turned to red. But they also heard that Megan had started crossing seconds before the green light for pedestrians came on.

The force of the impact threw her onto the bonnet of Kennedy’s car and into the air. She landed close to a stationary bus.

In evidence, Kennedy admitted he was to blame for

the crash. The jury heard that he had offered at an early stage to plead guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Former rail track maintenance worker Kennedy, who has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and depression told the jury: “I’ve thought about that day every day. It’s the only thing I think about.

“I just want to say sorry to her family. I know they’ll never forgive me, but I just want to say sorry to them. I’ll never stop being sorry.”

Judge Lord Armstrong deferred sentence on first offender Kennedy until January next year, allowed him bail and banned him

from driving.