Driver jailed for killing friend

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A motorist has been jailed for four years after killing his friend in a high-speed crash.

Iain Campbell, 25, was estimated to have been driving at up to 100mph when he overtook another motorist in his Subaru Impreza WRX in Aberdeenshire.

He lost control of the car and crashed, killing 19-year-old front seat passenger Craig Yule.

Two other passengers were injured in the crash. Campbell admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Smith told Campbell he would have been jailed for six years but for his guilty plea.

At the point that he was overtaken by the accused, witness Gary Donald estimates he was driving at 100mph Alan MackayAdvocate depute She added: "Craig Yule is now dead. You are responsible for his death. The way you drove was reprehensible. I cannot conceive of what on earth you thought you were doing.

"You drove so fast that you disabled yourself from reacting appropriately and safely."

The court had earlier heard that Campbell, of Cairnie, near Huntly, had bought the powerful car just a month before the fatal smash.

He had been driving on the A97 Huntly to Banff road, near the Cobairdy Junction, on 8 August last year when he lost control while attempting to negotiate a series of bends.

The vehicle mounted a verge and hit trees at the side of the road.

Apprentice technician Mr Yule, of Huntly, sustained a fractured skull and swelling to the brain following the collision.

He was cut free by firefighters and flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by air ambulance, but later died.

Two other passengers in the vehicle, Lee Donald and Brian Higgins, were thrown from the car and were both injured.

Advocate depute Alan Mackay said that shortly before the crash, Campbell had overtaken a Renault Clio 1.8 being driven by another acquaintance, Gary Donald.

'Utterly unacceptable'

The prosecutor said: "At the point that he was overtaken by the accused, witness Gary Donald estimates he was driving at 100mph."

A woman driver said she saw the Subaru's offside wheels leave the ground as it "flew" by her. She thought it was travelling at about 90mph in the 60mph limit.

Crash scene investigators estimated that Campbell was travelling at a speed in excess of 78mph when he lost control and crashed on the bend.

First offender Campbell denied that he and Mr Donald had been racing each other prior to the crash.

Defence counsel Greg Sanders said Campbell realised his driving was "utterly unacceptable".

He said it was "yet another case" of a young man buying an extremely powerful car and driving too fast.

The defence counsel said: "He does have a very real appreciation of the utter misery he has caused."

Lady Smith banned Campbell from driving for six years and ordered that he resit a test.

Relatives of Mr Yule said in a statement at the time: "Craig always lived for the moment. It is a huge waste of a young life."