Fatal Crash Involving Drink Driver
A drink driver who lost control of his vehicle and caused the death of his teenage passenger after speeding at 119mph has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Kyle Patrick, aged 23, admitted to charges of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol following a night out in Perth city centre in September 2024.
Erin Slane, who was just two days short of her 20th birthday, died at the scene of the accident. Another passenger, identified only as Jane, survived but sustained injuries.
The High Court in Glasgow was informed that moments before the crash, a frightened Erin sent messages to friends expressing fear for her life, stating she "may not survive tonight" and that "Kyle is steaming".
Patrick has also received a 10-year driving ban.
During sentencing, Lord Harrower condemned Patrick's actions, highlighting his "complete disregard over a sustained period of time" due to "prolonged and deliberate driving at excessive speed" combined with "excessive consumption of alcohol".
The judge acknowledged that no sentence could ease the pain experienced by the victims and their families, emphasizing the "terrible devastation" caused by Patrick's conduct.
Patrick's defence lawyer confirmed that his client accepted the necessity of a significant custodial sentence.
The court heard a poignant victim impact statement from Erin's family, noting she was scheduled to begin studies at Edinburgh Napier University shortly after her death and had her entire future ahead of her.
Jane, the surviving passenger, described ongoing psychological trauma and stated she could not recognize herself in the mirror two days after the incident.
Jane required a 10-day hospital stay and extensive recovery, while Erin succumbed to blunt-force head injuries at the crash site.
Lord Harrower indicated that had Patrick pleaded not guilty and the case proceeded to trial, the sentence would have been 12 years.
Although the judge accepted Patrick's remorse as genuine, he concluded that a substantial custodial sentence was the only appropriate course of action.
Patrick's defence advocate noted that he did not attempt to conceal his guilt, had no prior convictions, and acknowledged the gravity of his "dreadful decisions".
Patrick showed no visible emotion as he was led away, while the victims' family and friends were visibly emotional in court during sentencing.
Details of the Night and Crash
In May, the High Court in Edinburgh heard that Patrick, from Scone in Perthshire, had spent the evening consuming alcohol with friends in Perth city centre.
He visited multiple pubs, consuming pints of beer and shots throughout the night.
Subsequently, he drove to a taxi rank and offered lifts to individuals waiting in line. At the time of the crash, he was 21 years old.
Driving a Ford Fiesta ST-3 turbo, Patrick was paid £10 by a 17-year-old boy for a ride to Bankfoot before proceeding to South Street, where he parked outside a pub named That Bar and picked up Erin Slane and her friend around 01:45.
Prosecutor Graeme Jessop KC informed the court that Patrick was driving at "excessive speed" along the B9099 Luncarty to Stanley road when he lost control of the vehicle.
During the journey, Erin sent messages to a group of friends at 01:57 stating:
"I may not survive tonight. I'm scared. Kyle is steaming."
She sent another message at 02:05 reading:
"Kyle is steaming"
The fatal collision occurred approximately five minutes later on a secluded Perthshire road near the junction with Gowrie Farm.
The prosecutor described the incident:
"The accused lost control of the vehicle whereby it crossed the opposing carriageway, left the roadway, continued through wire fencing, down the grass embankment to a field, before rolling several times and coming to rest on its roof."
Patrick contacted police about 40 minutes after the crash. Emergency services found Erin deceased in the passenger seat.
Patrick informed emergency responders that he had crashed, admitted to being the driver, and acknowledged he had been drinking and should not have been driving.
He stated he had pulled a passenger, Jane, from the vehicle and expressed remorse for his actions.
Patrick's defence advocate Tony Lenehan KC told the court that Patrick "knows the terrible harm he has done" and pleaded guilty understanding the severity of his actions.
Lenehan added:
"He tells me if he could serve 10 times the sentence and be able to undo everything that happened, he would."
Additional Information
Erin Slane's family and friends continue to mourn the loss of a young woman whose promising future was tragically cut short.
Jane continues to recover from both physical injuries and psychological trauma resulting from the crash.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drink driving and excessive speeding.
