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Driver 'very close to death car' 'Race' death crash man not guilty
(about 4 hours later)
A young driver drove so close to the back of a friend's car he was unable to avoid him when the car crashed, killing three teenagers, a court has heard. A man charged with dangerous driving after a crash which killed three teenagers has been found not guilty.
Driver Sam Crouchley, 18, died on the A95 Keith to Banff road alongside his 15-year-old passengers Rebecca Dick and Amy Jaffray in 2006. Sam Crouchley, 18, died on the A95 Keith to Banff road alongside his 15-year-old passengers Rebecca Dick and Amy Jaffray in 2006.
Grampian Pc Alan Robertson told the court the cars were close together. Callum Wood, 21, denied dangerous driving and a sheriff found there was not enough evidence to prove he had been speeding close to their car.
Callum Wood, 21, denies dangerous driving, at Elgin Sheriff Court. The trial continues. The family of Mr Crouchley reacted angrily to the findings.
Grampian Police apologised for its "shortcomings" and said steps had been taken to address the errors.
Mr Crouchley, of Deskford, Ms Dick, from Burghead, and Ms Jaffray, from New Elgin, were killed when Mr Crouchley's Seat Ibiza crashed with a people carrier on a bridge. Mr Wood was driving a Ford Focus.Mr Crouchley, of Deskford, Ms Dick, from Burghead, and Ms Jaffray, from New Elgin, were killed when Mr Crouchley's Seat Ibiza crashed with a people carrier on a bridge. Mr Wood was driving a Ford Focus.
'Like a bomb' Until young people realise cars are not toys then accidents like we've heard about will continue to happen Sheriff James Hendry
Pc Robertson said the impact of the collision caused the roof box of the oncoming people carrier to fly off and hit the Focus. The Seat exploded "like a bomb" after an alleged race ended in the crash, the trial earlier heard.
Asked if he knew the speed of the vehicle, he said: "The conclusion was that the speed of the Seat was 83mph." Accident investigators estimated Mr Crouchley was driving at speeds of at least 83mph, but their calculations were proved wrong in their police report at Elgin Sheriff Court.
Depute fiscal, Geoff Main, asked: "Your conclusion is that the Ibiza approached the bridge and the driver lost control and hit the Espace. Sheriff James Hendry said he could not prosecute Mr Wood because the speed and proximity of the two cars were not proven during the four-day trial.
"What happened to the Seat?" However, he said: "I want to add, however, that until young people realise cars are not toys then accidents like we've heard about will continue to happen."
He replied: "It went round on the carriageway, the front of the Seat came into contact with the Ford Focus, you could say that they were very close together." Distance calculations
The car exploded "like a bomb" after an alleged race ended in the crash, the trial earlier heard. Mr Crouchley's family reacted angrily to the not guilty verdict in court.
His father, Neil Crouchley, said after the case: "What was the point in having a court case? To say I'm annoyed with the police is an understatement."
Callum Wood said he wanted to get on with his life
Mr Wood had admitted driving at 70-75mph on the 60mph stretch of road during a police interview.
He claimed to be driving "two swimming pool lengths" from Mr Crouchley but a witness claimed they were about 20in apart minutes before the crash.
Two collision investigators calculated the gap between the cars by working out the distance at which a roof box that detached from the oncoming Renault Espace people carrier went before it struck Mr Wood's Ford Focus.
But they admitted in court they got the calculation wrong.
After the hearing Mr Wood, of Burnmouth at Grange, near Keith, said: "I just want to get on with my life."
Police error
Grampian Police's Ch Insp Ian Wallace said: "Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in this collision and a senior officer will be making contact with the families this evening to offer our apologies for the shortcomings highlighted by Sheriff James Hendry.
"It is clear that certain elements of our investigation process have fallen short of the high standards we set ourselves and that which the public expects from us.
"The failing appears to be a result of human error and I have already taken steps to prevent this happening again."