Three years jail for death crash driver

Jun 5 2008 by Alastair McNeill

A BOOZED-up Uddingston driver who caused the death of a friend in a horror crash was this week jailed for 3 years.

Callous Gary Wilson fled the scene of the crash and left 18-year-old Jennifer Kane fatally injured in the wreckage.

The 20-year-old lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa as he drove at speed into a right hand bend after downing six pints just hours before.

The car ploughed off the road and smashed into a wooden fence.

Jennifer, of Baillieston, Glasgow, who was the front seat passenger, was knocked unconscious and suffered massive head injuries in the horror impact.

Sentencing Wilson at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, temporary judge Michael O'Grady QC told him: "I have absolutely no doubt that before December 4, 2006, you were a decent and responsible young man and that, quite simply, adds to the tragedy.

"However, you drove at excessive speed and drove under the influence of alcohol – you took the chances and Miss Kane paid the ultimate price."

The temporary judge also banned Wilson from driving for six years.

At an earlier hearing, Wilson, of New Edinburgh Road, admitted causing Jennifer's death by careless driving at excessive speed and while unfit through drink on the A89 Coatbridge Road, Glasgow, around 5.20am on December 4, 2006.

The Crown accepted his not guilty plea to an alternative charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

The court was told that pieces of the wooden fence smashed into the left side of Jennifer's head knocking her unconscious and causing massive injuries. She died three days later in hospital.

Iain McSporran, prosecuting, said Jennifer’s family were "devastated."

He added: "They are finding it very difficult to cope with her death. She had enrolled at college to study sociology.

"She was a bubbly girl, a typical teenager and the life and soul of the party.

"She leaves a sister, now 16, and there is also a new addition to the family, a 13-week old boy, a brother Jennifer has never seen."

The court was told that motorists stopped at the scene and administered aid to Jennifer until the ambulance arrived, but Wilson left the scene.

Mr McSporran said: "A lookout was broadcast for the driver and 20 minutes later police officers saw him walking in Bargeddie.

"They noticed a smell of alcohol coming from him and asked him if he had been involved in a road traffic accident and he said: 'No.'"

The court was told that eventually Wilson admitted he had been the driver.

Mr McSporran added: "He said he had been driving and lost control. He said he had had six pints of beer some time prior to the accident.”

Jennifer, said the prosecutor, had been a friend for five years. Wilson, who had picked her up at 4.45am by arrangement, began to lose control at a right hand bend and estimated he was travelling at 55 to 60 mph.

An expert calculated that at the time of the crash Wilson had an alcohol count of 151 – just under twice the legal limit and road traffic investigators estimated the car was travelling at between 45 and 55 mph.

Solicitor advocate John Carroll, defending, told the court: "Mr Wilson is fully aware of why he's here and hasn't lost sight of the fact that his actions caused the death of a young girl who was his friend.

"He's a young man who has never given any previous concern to his parents, family, friends or employers. He has led a responsible life and recently completed an apprenticeship.

"Both Mr Wilson and the young girl seemed to have been caught up in an extremely tragic and unlucky incident."