Count me as a fan of compassion. But the outcome in this case troubles me.

What we have reported of Dawson’s poor driving record suggests he was fortunate to receive mercy from the Wortham family and the court.

Last year, he was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of an accident in Northumberland County after crashing into a utility pole, snapping it in two. He fled the scene, but a witness got his license plate number.

In another case, he was sued by a driver who was injured following a collision on Nov. 15, 2013, in which Dawson ran a red light and T-boned the other driver’s car at Diane Lane and Chamberlayne Road. In January 2014 in Henrico General District Court, he was found guilty of failing to obey a traffic signal in connection with that crash.

According to a summary of the evidence on Monday, Dawson’s eyesight compromised his ability to navigate safely on the road, with the defendant admitting to investigators that he generally had a difficult time seeing while driving. In all likelihood, his right to drive should have been revoked before this final tragedy.

His overall poor health — including diabetes and heart and kidney trouble — was also taken into account by Royalty.