Driver jailed for causing friend's death in 108mph crash

A driver who caused the death of a teenage friend in a 108mph crash has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Ben Taylor, 19, was a passenger in an Audi RS3 when Josh Buchan lost control of the car on the outskirts of Aberdeen in 2022.

Buchan, 26, admitted causing the teenager's death, as well as driving at speeds of up to 125mph on a previous occasion.

The victim's mother, Trudi Walsh, said his death had changed her life forever and warned other young drivers: "One moment of speeding or showing off can destroy lives forever."

"If sharing Ben's story can make even one young person stop and think before getting into a car, or before driving recklessly, then at least something positive can come from this devastating loss," she said in a statement.

"Young drivers and passengers need to understand that the risks are real. You are not invincible."

Judge Buchanan said Buchan had been "appallingly reckless" and also banned him from driving for 10 years and 11 months.

He said the result of his driving was "the most terrible tragedy" which had caused "utter devastation" for the victim's family.

Advocate depute Lindsey Dalziel, for the Crown, had previously told the court about the "devastating" loss suffered by Taylor's family.

Buchan, from Aberdeen, had been driving a black high-performance Audi RS3, which had a top speed of 155mph, at the time of the crash.

He lost control on a bend before the car became airborne and crashed into trees.

Buchan and another passenger were able to get out, but Taylor died inside the car from his head injuries.

It was agreed that the car had been travelling at 108mph as it approached the bend, and that the impact with the trees would have happened at about 93mph.

Collision investigators said it had been the manner of Buchan's driving that had led to the loss of control.

The court heard that Taylor's mother later found a video clip which showed the Audi dashboard and a speed of up to 125mph on a previous occasion.

Buchan accepted it was him driving and that the clip had been filmed in the Aberdeen area.

The first offender was originally charged with driving at speeds of up to 194mph on previous occasions, and driving at up to 118mph before the fatal crash on South Deeside Road.

Buchan admitted amended charges of driving at up to 125mph on a previous occasion, and causing the death of his rear seat passenger in September 2022 by driving dangerously on the B9077 road at up to 108mph.

Defence counsel Neil Shand said the mechanic - who appeared via video link - had regarded Ben Taylor as his closest friend.

He said the consequences of Buchan's "stupid and reckless" driving would "live with him forever more".

Shand said Buchan - who had lost his hair, which he put down to stress and worry - recognised there was no alternative to a significant custodial sentence, and would pay a "heavy price" for what he had done.

Judge Buchanan jailed Buchan for five years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving and 22 months for the earlier speeding offence, with the two sentences running one after the other.

Taylor's mother Trudi Walsh had previously described her son as "a generous soul" and said that things would "never get easier" for the family.

She also has twin sons Jon and Sam, who are aged 21.

"Ben had a bright future ahead of him, which has now been tragically taken away," she said after the sentencing.

"While it is difficult to find sympathy for the driver given what has happened, I am also aware that his future has been changed forever as a result of this tragedy."

However, she said there still needed to be legal consequences.

"People need to understand that actions like this can't just happen without any punishment, otherwise there's no deterrent.

"I hope that lessons are truly learned from this."