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Youth's body found in crashed car Body found floating in crash car
(30 minutes later)
A drunk-driver crashed a stolen car into a canal, causing the death of a 15-year-old who was inside.A drunk-driver crashed a stolen car into a canal, causing the death of a 15-year-old who was inside.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how two men saved Paul Gray, 21, by holding his head above water at the Union Canal.The High Court in Glasgow heard how two men saved Paul Gray, 21, by holding his head above water at the Union Canal.
Gray twice told firefighters there was no-one else in the car. However, the body of Gary McBride was later found floating in the submerged vehicle.Gray twice told firefighters there was no-one else in the car. However, the body of Gary McBride was later found floating in the submerged vehicle.
Gray admitted causing death by dangerous driving and sentence was deferred for background reports.Gray admitted causing death by dangerous driving and sentence was deferred for background reports.
The court heard that alongside denying there was anyone else in the car, Gray, of Landrick Terrace, Dunblane, gave a false name to his rescuers.
There is likely to be a significant custodial sentence arising out of this tragedy Lord Hodge
After spending five days in hospital, Gray also made false claims that the teenager was driving at the time.
The drink-driver was trapped for 50 minutes until firefighters cut him free.
The body of Gary McBride, who lived at Hillside Terrace, Westquarter, Falkirk, was found floating in the back of the upturned Fiat by a police frogman.
The court heard that he had drowned within two minutes after being knocked unconscious.
The accident happened at a bridge over the Union Canal at Almond Road, Muiravonside, Falkirk, on 20 September.
Gray, who had never possessed a driving licence, also admitted driving at an excessive speed while he was under the influence of alcohol.
Previous convictions
Vinit Khunrana, prosecuting, told judge Lord Hodge that Gray's ex-girlfriend Gemma McBride, the sister of the victim, threw him out of her house five hours before the tragedy because he was drunk and had a bottle of cider hidden in his trouser leg.
Over the next three to four hours he drank another eight cans of beer in a friend's house and then stole his car.
Mr Khurana said that as the car was heading towards the Union Canal it struck a fence, flew through the air, hit a grit bin and travelled a short distance on top of the bridge parapet before plunging 15ft to land on its roof in the water.
Local residents Christopher Parsons and Christopher Crowe dashed to the scene and waded into 5ft of water to hold unconscious Gray's head above the water.
Firefighters called to the scene helped them and gave Gray oxygen until he was cut free from the wreckage. Then they saw Gary's leg and found him in the back of the car.
Mr Khurana said: "When asked by police later why he had denied driving the vehicle Gray replied that he had thought about lying while Gary was 'watching down' on him."
Mother's loss
The court heard that Gray, who had convictions for various offences including assault, had only been released from detention six weeks before the accident.
Mr Khurana told Lord Hodge that Gary's mother Mary McBride had found it hard to come to terms with the loss of her son.
Gerry Carroll, defending, said that the death of Gary, who was looked on by Gray as being like a little brother, was a matter of deep and abiding regret to him.
Gray told police he wished he could have turned time back.
Lord Hodge told Gray: "There is likely to be a significant custodial sentence arising out of this tragedy."
Sentence was deferred until May.