Drink-driver killed teen friends in car smash
Youth facing jail over crash tragedy
A DRINK-DRIVER caused the deaths of two teenage friends in a crash after he lost control of his car when he drove off from a party.
Logan Russell was 17 when his Vauxhall Corsa left the road and hit a tree, leaving three passengers in the vehicle unconscious.
Russell managed to get out of the car and told witnesses: “Help my friends. Can you get them out the car? It’s all my fault.”
The High Court in Edinburgh heard paramedics pronounced life extinct with one of the passengers Ethan King, 17, while another, Connor Aird, also 17, died later in hospital. The third passenger, Daniel Stevens, suffered serious injuries.
A judge told Russell, now 20, that a jail sentence was “very much at the forefront of my mind”.
Russell had faced a charge of causing the deaths by dangerous driving on the A915 Standing Stane road at Windygates, Fife, in November 2018.
But yesterday he pled guilty to an amended charge of causing the deaths by careless driving while over the drink-drive limit.
The court heard that Russell, of Valley Gardens, Leslie, had held a driving licence for just 55 days when the fatal collision occurred.
Russell had left the party with the three passengers heading towards Kirkcaldy.
Describing the crash, prosecutor Leanne McQuillan said: “Witnesses described the car drifting gradually to the right, crossing the centre line into the opposing carriageway. No one saw the brake lights illuminate.”
Ethan died after sustaining significant head trauma. Connor and Daniel were airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where Connor died of head and chest injuries. Daniel suffered a broken leg and ribs and a fractured collarbone.
Russell was found to be more than twice the legal drink-driving limit.
Judge Lord Boyd of Duncansby adjourned sentencing until next month.
No witnesses saw the brake lights illuminate PROSECUTOR LEANNE McQUILLAN