Man Guilty of "Kamikaze" Style Driving

A man has been found guilty of "kamikaze" driving after a horror smash that left a friend dead and several other people badly hurt in South Lanarkshire. Ian Milligan ploughed head-on into another car after going onto the wrong side of the road on the A702 near Abington. Milligan's passenger Alistair Wells (56) tragically died while a number of people in the other vehicle had to be air-lifted to hospital from the carnage. The 52 year-old dad denied causing death by dangerous driving while insisting he could not remember the accident. But, a jury has convicted him of the charge after prosecutors branded his actions that day as "moronic". First offender Milligan, of Dumfries, now faces jail when he returns to the dock next month. The crash happened on July 8 2013 as Milligan and lifelong friend Mr Wells returned home from working on a building site in Edinburgh. William Johnston and his family were also on the A702 as they headed back from a holiday in Wales. Milligan ended up driving his Honda car on the opposite side of the road as he approached a bend causing him to smash into Mr Johnston's oncoming Peugeot. An air ambulance was soon called to the scene to help the casualties. Mr Wells, also of Dumfries, never recovered and died the next day at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital. Mr Johnston suffered a broken elbow, his wife Deborah had a serious neck injury while three other relatives were also hurt - including one later needing emergency surgery. Milligan - who also ended up in hospital - told a jury at the High Court in Glasgow he had no memory of the crash. Prosecutor Tim Niven Smith later put to Milligan that being on the wrong side of the road that day was "kamikaze-like". Mr Niven-Smith went on: "This was suicidal...moronic to drive that way?" Milligan: "Yes, moronic." The advocate depute added: "You say that you cannot remember so cannot assist as to how you came to be on the other side of the road?" Milligan replied: "No." The dad looked shell-shocked after the jury returned its verdict. Lord Matthews continued bail as he deferred sentencing until next month for reports. The judge later told jurors: "These cases are always very anxious and there are no winners or losers. They are a tragedy for all concerned."