Vet nurse killed by maniac driver was found at scene by her horrified fiancé
THE fiancé of a crash victim tried in vain to save her life after her car collided with a tipper truck, a court heard yesterday.
Scot Brading was walking their dog in a field near the A1 and ran to the accident scene to help.
He discovered that Meghan Ambrozevich-Blair had been involved in the crash. The 26-year-old had multiple injuries and died despite the efforts of Mr Brading, 30, and an off-duty doctor.
Truck driver Michael Friel yesterday admitted killing the student in a head-on collision after driving along the dual carriageway the wrong way.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Miss Ambrozevich-Blair was posthumously awarded a first-class honours degree in veterinary nursing from Edinburgh Napier University.
Friel, 57, pleaded guilty to causing death by driving dangerously on December 9, 2016, near Dunbar, East Lothian, after performing a three-point turn and driving the wrong way in the face of oncoming traffic.
Lord Arthurson deferred sentence on Friel, of Macmerry, East Lothian, for background reports. He said: ‘A substantial custodial sentence remains at the forefront of the court’s mind.’
Miss Ambrozevich-Blair’s family said in a statement that their ‘world fell apart when our beautiful Meghan was taken from us’.
They added: ‘Meghan was talented, caring and loving in every way. She loved life and had it all in front of her.
‘We lost an incredible daughter and sister, and her fiancé lost his soulmate and the family they planned to have.
‘The suffering we have endured over the last two years since that day has been horrendous. We never thought it was possible to be in so much pain and still be alive.’
They added: ‘We have faith that whatever punishment the court decides to impose will reflect the severity of this crime.’
Advocate depute Alex Pren- tice, QC, told the court the student had left her home in Dunbar, to drive to her part-time job at a veterinary surgery near Edinburgh.
Friel had also set off from Dunbar in the Ford Transit tipper, heading for Little Spott, East Lothian.
Mr Prentice said: ‘He joined the A1 southbound and had almost reached Torness nuclear power station before realising he was travelling in the wrong direction for his destination.’ Friel stopped and called his brother, who he worked for, and was told to return north to the Spott roundabout and wait for him at a supermarket.
Friel missed the turn at the roundabout and continued north on the A1 before realising that he had made a mistake. He then pulled up and made a three-point turn.
Mr Prentice said: ‘The accused drove in a southerly direction in the northbound carriageway. He encountered a number of vehicles travelling north at speed.
‘The drivers in five vehicles had to take immediate action by swerving and flashing headlights to avoid colliding with the accused’s vehicle.
‘Two other drivers saw the accused’s vehicle and flashed headlights to alert him to their presence.
‘Two drivers noticed the accused appeared to be oblivious to the danger presented and that he was staring straight ahead while driving.’
Mr Prentice added that Miss Ambrozevich-Blair was not travelling at excessive speed before the crash.
The prosecutor said a number of people stopped and tried to help after the collision. They could see that the student was trapped in her Kia Cerato and appeared unresponsive.
An off-duty doctor started performing CPR on her and Mr Brading went to help the medic.
He also called her parents and they went to the scene.
A firefighter spoke to Friel who asked her: ‘When did this become a one way?’ She said he was on the ‘motorway’ and that it had always been one way. Friel replied: ‘It used to be two way.’
A breath test on Friel proved negative and he was taken to hospital for treatment to fractures.
‘Five vehicles had to swerve’