On the same Friday during the middle of December 1967, two separate accidents involving children and vehicles happened in High Blantyre.
Firstly, three year old Thomas Caithness of 6 Welsh Drive was slightly injured when he ran from behind a parked vehicle right into the path of a west bound vehicle on Main Street, High Blantyre at the junction of Auchinraith Road. He was taken to Hairmyres Hospital and after treatment was allowed home.
Sadly though, the other accident was far more serious with tragic consequences. On that same day, five year old Brian Howat of 53 Auchinraith Terrace, was knocked down and killed by a car. A passing ambulance took the boy to Hairmyres Hospital, but he was found to be dead on arrival. Brian, at the time was the third eldest of a family of six and he had recently started school at Blantyre’s St Josephs Primary.
It’s in this post here we remember the short life of Brian Howat and note some 54 years later, this wee Blantyre boy is not forgotten.
