Drugged-up driver jailed for Bothwell crash that killed three

A drugged-up driver who killed his brother and two other passengers in a horror crash has been jailed for more than eight years.

Samuel Williamson had also been drinking and had no licence when he got behind the wheel of a convertible Vauxhall Astra on December 4 2020.

The speeding 33 year-old eventually hit a wall before the vehicle hurtled into the air.

The motor crashed back onto the road, but his brother James Williamson, 37, along with Mandy McCallum, 30 and 62 year-old Ernest Beveridge never survived the incident in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire.

Another passenger was badly hurt and a dog in the car had to be put down.

Unemployed Williamson returned to the High Court in Glasgow having earlier pled guilty to causing the deaths by dangerous driving.

Judge Graham Buchanan sentenced him to eight years and four months.

He told Williamson: "You have pled guilty to a charge of the utmost gravity.

"Three people died as a result of your utterly irresponsible behaviour.

"The consequences of your actions are tragic and catastrophic."

Williamson was also banned from driving for 12 years and two months.

The car involved was owned by someone else, but Williamson drove with the others in the early hours of that morning to go to his home in Larkhall, also South Lanarkshire.

But, he ended up failing take a bend and crossed into the other lane.

Prosecutor Chris MacIntosh said: "The car went on to the pavement and struck a stone wall.

"This caused the vehicle to become airborne and it continued before the rear of the car struck a tree.

"The car was propelled and landed heavily back on the road.

"Two of the passengers (James and Mandy) were thrown from the vehicle as a result."

The three victims all suffered similar fatal injuries.

Williamson was trapped in the driver's seat along with the other passenger in the car also hurt.

After emergency services arrived, Williamson was noted to be smelling of alcohol and later claimed he had only been steering the Astra.

Tests went on to reveal the presence of six different drugs in his system including cocaine, morphine and street Valium.

Mr MacIntosh added: "The levels of alcohol and all drugs would be enough to have caused impairment."

It was estimated that the car was travelling up to 60 miles per hour in a 30 zone at the time.

During a police interview in early 2021, Williamson stated he could "not remember" who was driving.

Williamson had also sustained numerous fractures as well as a bleed to the brain and a punctured lung as a result of the crash.

John Brannigan, defending, today/yesterday said Williamson is "extremely devastated by the impact" of what happened.

All three victims are survived by their children.

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