A stock car racer who had been drinking killed a Royal Navy veteran before fleeing the scene. Marc Fortune, 28, was behind the wheel of his 4x4 pick up when he ploughed into the back of a Vauxhall Meriva driven by John King.
The 63 year-old's car was forced off the road and ended up spinning down an embankment on the A92 near Cowdenbeath in Fife. John - who had served in the Royal Navy for 25 years - never survived the crash on September 12 2020.
A young boy and a baby in the motor were also hurt, but luckily survived. Fortune - who had earlier been spotted swigging vodka at a stock car meeting - drove off later telling a friend: "My mum is going to kill me."
A judge heard it was instead the "remarkable courage" of the boy injured in the crash who brought the emergency services to the scene late at night. First offender Fortune now faces a lengthy jail-term after he today pled guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC told how Fortune was involved in racing stock cars mainly at a track in Cowdenbeath, Fife. He had been at a separate track in Lochgelly on the night of the incident as a spectator.
Mr Goddard told the High Court in Glasgow: "He was seen to take a full sized bottle of vodka from the passenger seat of his Mitsubishi Barbarian L200. He was seen to pinch his nose and drink 'a good few mouthfuls'.
Fortune was described as if he was "tipsy". Despite this, he later drove off in his 4x4 and headed on the A92. John meantime was on the same road on the way to collect a relative from work.
One child was in the front passenger seat with the younger in a baby seat in the back. John was in the inside lane when he was suddenly struck at the back by Fortune's vehicle.
This caused the Vauxhall to spin, hit a barrier and then hurtle through the air before rolling down an embankment. Mr Goddard: "The offside doors burst open and the roof as well as the rear of the vehicle were severely damaged."
It was estimated Fortune had been travelling "at a speed in excess" of the 70mph John was said to be going at. Instead of stopping to help, Fortune instead carried on for half a mile before locking and abandoning his 4x4.
He initially got a woman to collect him claiming he had crashed his car, but did not want to talk about it. Fortune then called a friend to drive him later stating to him: "My mum is going to kill me - I just hit it. They locked up the brakes and I just hit it."
The court heard that the older boy meantime managed to clamber out of the wrecked Vauxhall. Mr Goddard: "With remarkable courage and presence of mind, he dialled 999. He was highly distressed, but able to remain on the phone and describe the road he had travelled to allow the emergency services to locate him.
"He was able to describe the condition of (John) and the other child. Towards the end of the call, he approached the road and used his mobile phone torch to successfully guide police."
John, of Ballingry, Fife, was found still in the car, but unresponsive. The baby was upside down in his baby seat. Attempts were made to save John, but he never recovered from head, neck and chest injuries.
Both children suffered cuts and remained in hospital overnight. Police found Fortune's 4x4 and he was traced to his father's home in Kirknewton, Midlothian the next morning.
He had to be woken from his bed and still appeared under the influence of alcohol. He claimed to have left the Mitsubishi parked at the racetrack and that his cousin had given him a lift home. Police checked out his claims, but found he was lying.
They later returned and Fortune was breathalysed. He was found to have 75mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mg. Fortune stated he had drunk three vodka and cokes before officers had come back.
The court heard John is survived by his wife of 34 years as well as five brothers, two stepchildren and five grandchildren. It was also stated the boy in the crash remains badly affected, but that there have been "small improvements" in him.
Fortune was remanded in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports.
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