A LAWYER has admitted causing the death of a college lecturer after she hit him with her car in rush-hour traffic.

Liana Di Ciacca, 30, was driving through Uddingston, Lanarkshire, when she collided with Joe Leitch, 79, as he ran across a street. She drove at up to 40mph in a 30mph zone and struck the pensioner after he stepped off a bus.

Mr Leitch was rushed to hospital suffering from head and chest injuries after the incident on October 29, 2012, but died later that day.

Yesterday, Di Ciacca, a commercial property solicitor with a Glasgow law firm, admitted driving without due care and attention and hitting Mr Leitch. Fiscal depute Ziad Hassan told Hamilton Sheriff Court she had been driving at excessive speed for the location.

He said: "The police crash investigation unit investigated the circumstances of the incident. They concluded that although the deceased made the decision to run across a busy road the accused was travelling at excessive speed in respect of the 30mph limit and the prevailing road and traffic conditions."

Di Ciacca's lawyer Barry Smith passed on her condolences to Mr Leitch's family.

Sentencing on Di Ciacca, of Bothwell, who has no previous convictions, was deferred until next month.She was disqualified from driving in the meantime.