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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Race' death crash man not guilty | 'Race' death crash man not guilty |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man charged with dangerous driving after a crash which killed three teenagers has been found not guilty. | A man charged with dangerous driving after a crash which killed three teenagers has been found not guilty. |
| 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. |
| 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, denied dangerous driving and a sheriff found there was not enough evidence to prove he had been speeding close to their car. |
| The family of Mr Crouchley reacted angrily to the findings. | 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. | 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. |
| Until young people realise cars are not toys then accidents like we've heard about will continue to happen Sheriff James Hendry | Until young people realise cars are not toys then accidents like we've heard about will continue to happen Sheriff James Hendry |
| The Seat exploded "like a bomb" after an alleged race ended in the crash, the trial earlier heard. | The Seat exploded "like a bomb" after an alleged race ended in the crash, the trial earlier heard. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Sheriff James Hendry said he could not convict Mr Wood because the speed and proximity of the two cars were not proven during the four-day trial. | |
| 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." | 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." |
| Distance calculations | Distance calculations |
| Mr Crouchley's family reacted angrily to the not guilty verdict in court. | 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." | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | After the hearing Mr Wood, of Burnmouth at Grange, near Keith, said: "I just want to get on with my life." |
| Police error | 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. | 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. | "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." | "The failing appears to be a result of human error and I have already taken steps to prevent this happening again." |