Passing car kills crash survivor

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A passenger was thrown from a stolen car after a 100mph crash - then was knocked down and killed by another vehicle as he tried to get to his feet.

Two drivers admitted their parts in the death of Derek Maxwell when they appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.

Patrick Gilheaney, 27, from Lancashire, admitted stealing a car and two charges of dangerous driving last August.

Allan Edmunds, 53, from Skye, admitted causing the 36-year-old's death by careless driving on the A87 on Skye.

Edmunds, of Breakish, Skye, also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by hiding his car and buying equipment to cut it up.

Judge Lord Brailsford deferred sentence on both men until later this month at the High Court in Edinburgh.

He allowed Edmunds bail and remanded Gilheaney, from Rossendale, Lancashire, in custody.

The court heard that on 24 August learner driver Gilheaney drove from the north of England to Skye in a stolen car with his friend Mr Maxwell.

He accepts without question responsibility for the death because of the manner of his driving Graham RobertsonGilheaney's defence counsel

Gilheaney was on the wrong side of the road travelling at 100mph when he crashed into another car on the Invergarry to Uig road.

Mr Maxwell was thrown out of a car window by the impact.

As he tried to get up he was struck by boat builder Mr Edmunds' 4x4, which was travelling in the opposite direction. Mr Maxwell died instantly.

Mr Edmunds then hid his vehicle in nearby Kinloch Woods and travelled to Inverness to buy equipment to cut up and dispose of it.

He also bought a bike so that he could cycle back to the woods.

The court heard that Gilheaney was more than three times the drink drive limit when breathalysed.

Drove on

When he was questioned by police at the crash scene he told them: "It's my fault. I've killed him."

The court was told that Edmunds was aware of having been in a collision as one of his tyres was punctured, but despite this he drove on.

Graham Robertson, defence counsel for Gilheaney, said: "My client regarded Mr Maxwell like a brother.

"He accepts without question responsibility for the death because of the manner of his driving."

Solicitor Advocate Richard Goddard, representing Edmunds, said his client was a respectable businessman.

Mr Goddard said: "He was not aware he had struck a person.

"When he did realise the next day he became consumed with panic. He has shown genuine remorse for what he did."