A person convicted of causing the death of a teenager in a high-speed crash while driving under the influence has been sentenced to prison. The tragic incident occurred when 19-year-old Erin Slane, who had messaged her friends expressing fear moments before the accident, was a passenger in a Ford Fiesta driven by 23-year-old Kyle Patrick in Perthshire, Scotland. Patrick was driving at speeds reaching 119mph on a secluded road, leading to the loss of control of the vehicle, resulting in a fatal rollover crash that claimed Erin’s life.
Following the guilty plea to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, Patrick, from Scone, Perthshire, was sentenced to eight years in jail. Investigations revealed that before the crash, Patrick had been drinking with friends in Perth city center and offered rides to individuals for a fee. He subsequently picked up Erin and another friend, Keira Jones, for a car journey characterized by excessive speed.
During the sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow, the judge emphasized the severity of Patrick’s actions, labeling them as a deliberate and prolonged display of reckless driving under the influence of alcohol. The judge acknowledged the devastating impact on Erin’s family, highlighting that no court sentence could ease their pain. Patrick also admitted to impaired driving due to alcohol consumption and offering unauthorized taxi services on the day of the accident.