Carrbridge Man Jailed for Killing Friend in Drink-Drive Crash
A speeding drink driver who killed a friend in a car crash after losing control of a powerful vehicle was jailed for three years and nine months today.
Motorist Daniel Ritchie told a witness after the fatal collision: "Why is it always the driver that escapes from these things. It should be me that's dead."
A judge told Ritchie that he had driven while his ability to control the car was impaired by the consumption of alcohol and he drove at grossly excessive speed.
Lord Boyd of Duncansby said at the High Court in Edinburgh: "Motor vehicles in the wrong hands can be lethal weapons."
The judge told Ritchie (25) that if he had been convicted of the offence after trial he would have jailed him for five years.
He said that he took into account that he was a first offender, that the person who died, Greg Anderson (21) was a friend, that he had shown remorse and was also injured in the incident.
Ritchie, of Woodlands, Carr Road, Carrbridge, in Inverness-shire, had earlier admitted causing the death of Mr Anderson, of Ardbroilach Road, Kingussie, on July 6 in 2013 by driving dangerously.
He drove a modified car after drinking so much alcohol that his ability to control it was impaired and at grossly excessive speeds for the C1119 road east of Carrbridge.
Lord Boyd told Ritchie: "You stand in the dock of the High Court because through your actions on July 6 2013 you are criminally responsible for the death of Greg Anderson."
The judge said he had heard of the impact the death had on Mr Anderson's family and added: "In a small community however his death would have been keenly felt far beyond his family."
Ritchie had written a letter expressing his remorse and Lord Boyd told him: "I have little doubt that if you could turn the clock back you would do that."
The judge said the vehicle involved in the collision, a Vauxhall Corsa fitted with a two litre engine, was a powerful car.
"He owned it and he drove it. I accept he himself did not modify it," said Lord Boyd.
Mr Anderson and his girlfriend had gone to Carrbridge to attend a 21st birthday party and spent the night socialising.
Plant operator Ritchie was also at the party and during the course of it mentioned to one witness that he was "feeling quite drunk", the court heard.
One person at the event recalled that Ritchie had offered to show Mr Anderson his car. The two of them then left the party.
A witness noticed a light gold coloured car passing on Carr Road, Carrbridge, at speed and another neighbour heard it accelerate.
The court heard it had what he described as "a sports exhaust" and was driving fast. He heard sirens a short time later. Ritchie lost control of the car on the single track road which struck a fence and hit a tree.
A passerby who stopped at the crash scene could smell drink from the breath of Ritchie who told him: "Please tell me he is still alive."
Ritchie said: "I think I'll be going to jail for this." The man asked him what he meant and he replied: "I've had a drink."
Firefighters found the passenger, Mr Anderson, trapped in the car and he was unresponsive. The cause of death was later certified as a head injury as a result of a vehicle collision with a tree.
Ritchie suffered a collapsed lung and a doctor told police that he had complained about his ability to give a breath specimen due to pain in his chest.
Defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said: "Daniel Ritchie expresses his remorse and regret publicly through me to the family of Greg Anderson."
"This is an individual who bitterly regrets the gross error of judgement displayed by him on that summer evening," he said.
Ritchie was also disqualified from driving for five years.