A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for killing a 19-year-old passenger and seriously injuring another when he crashed his car at 119 mph in Perthshire, Scotland. The incident occurred on September 1, 2024.
The driver, Kyle Patrick, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to another passenger. He admitted to repeatedly speeding on the journey towards Gowrie Farm, losing control of the vehicle, which then crossed into the opposite carriageway, went down an embankment, struck a fence, and rolled multiple times in a field.
Erin Slane, a passenger in the Ford Fiesta ST-3, died at the scene due to severe injuries. Keira Jones, another passenger, sustained serious injuries. Ms. Slane had sent messages to friends during the journey stating, "I may not survive tonight. I'm scared. Kyle is steaming."
At the time of the incident, Patrick had been drinking with friends in Perth city centre. Blood samples taken at 4:30 a.m., over two hours after the crash, revealed he was more than three times the legal drink-driving limit. He had also been offering people rides and accepted £10 from a teenager for a journey.
Patrick picked up Ms. Slane and Ms. Jones, both of whom were wearing seatbelts, for the ill-fated journey. He reached speeds of 119 mph in a 60 mph zone before losing control of the car.
Following the crash, Patrick contacted the police to report the incident. At the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Lord Harrower sentenced Patrick to eight years in prison and disqualified him from driving for 10 years. He must pass an extended driving test before being relicensed.
Lord Harrower described the incident as a "prolonged and deliberate course of driving at grossly excessive speeds while impaired through alcohol," stating it was "no mere lapse of judgment." The judge noted that Erin Slane, who was preparing to start university, had her "whole life ahead of her."
In his sentencing remarks, the judge highlighted the devastation inflicted on Ms. Slane's family and the ongoing trauma and rehabilitation experienced by Ms. Jones, whose injuries caused her to postpone her studies. He stated that a significant custodial sentence was unavoidable.
Patrick's defense counsel indicated that the defendant feels genuine remorse and understands the consequences of his actions, noting that he remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.