Yet another life ended too soon. As a parent, I can’t and won’t imagine this. A teenager died after sustaining a head injury which was caused by his friend driving dangerously on a secluded country road, a court has heard.
Tragic William Sangster (pictured) 19, passed away following a collision between Adam Youngson’s car and a tree in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, on November 29 2014.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Wednesday how moments before the incident, another car being driven by Scott Neil,19, came close to the back of Youngson’s red Ford Fiesta. Youngson reacted by accelerating away from Neil’s car.
However, Neil then broke the speed limit to keep up with Youngson, who had passed his driving test four months earlier. Youngson – who ignored his passengers requests for him to drive carefully – lost control of his vehicle, causing it to leave the road.
Mr Sangster, of Auchnagatt, Aberdeenshire, was a back seat passenger in Mr Youngson’s car. Fire and Rescue staff had to cut him free, but he was pronounced him dead at the scene.
His devastated sister Nicole was also present in the motor at the time of the incident.
The story emerged after Youngson, of Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, pleaded guilty before judge Lady Wolffe to causing Mr Sangster’s death by driving dangerously on the A950 New Pitsligo to Mintlaw Road near to Aden Country Park.
His co-accused Neil, of Stuartfield, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving at excessive and inappropriate speeds on the B9030 road.
Mr Sangster’s family spoke of the “close” relationship he shared with them, particularly his sister Nicole, who was then aged 17. “William came from a big extended family and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He was well-known as a larger than life character and always had a big smile on his face. He was very close to his sister, they did everything together.