Kyle Patrick, a 23-year-old drink-driver, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for causing the death of 19-year-old Erin Slane, who messaged friends saying 'I may not survive tonight' while a passenger in his car. The incident occurred on September 1, 2024, in Perthshire, Scotland.
Details of the Crash
Patrick drove at 'grossly excessive speeds' while impaired by alcohol, losing control of the vehicle on the way to Gowrie Farm. The car crossed onto the opposite carriageway, went down an embankment, hit a fence, and rolled over several times in a field. Erin Slane died at the scene, and fellow passenger Keira Jones suffered serious injuries.
Court Proceedings
Patrick pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to another passenger. He also admitted driving while his ability was impaired due to alcohol consumption and offering to take people to their home addresses from a taxi rank in Perth earlier that day.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, Lord Harrower sentenced Patrick to eight years in prison. The judge stated that the incident was 'no mere lapse of judgment' but a 'prolonged and deliberate course of driving at grossly excessive speeds while impaired through alcohol.' He added, 'Erin was 19, about to start university and had her whole life ahead of her. No sentence of this court can alleviate their anguish.'
Impact and Aftermath
The court heard that Erin Slane messaged friends during the journey, expressing fear: 'I may not survive tonight. I’m scared. Kyle is steaming.' Patrick, from Scone, Perthshire, will serve eight years behind bars for his actions that brought 'terrible devastation' to the victim's family.
