The family of a Royal Navy veteran killed by a drunken stock car racer on a Fife road have hit out at his “unjust” sentencing.
Marc Fortune was behind the wheel of his 4×4 pick-up truck when he ploughed into the back of a Vauxhall Meriva driven by Ballingry man 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.
John – who served in the Royal Navy for 25 years – never survived the smash on September 1, 2020.
A young boy and a baby in the motor were also hurt, but luckily survived.
On Wednesday, Fortune was jailed for six years and banned from driving for 10.
The family of Mr King have said they were left disappointed.
‘Unbearable’ impact
In a statement issued by Digby Brown Solicitors, relatives of Mr King said: “The hurt that Fortune caused is unbearable.
“The impact of the loss of John has never lessened.”
The family said: “It has been two-and-a-half years, but we still feel as raw as when we first found out.
“Fortune has not shown a shred of remorse or accountability for his actions.
“He was drinking. He fled the scene. He was speeding. And he killed John, injured two children and left our mum and whole family devastated.”
The statement continued: “We are really disappointed by today’s sentence because to us, anything less than 10 years feels unjust.”
‘Fortitude’ of injured boy
Fortune – who had earlier been spotted swigging vodka at a stock car meeting – drove off from the scene, later telling a friend: “My mum is going to kill me.”
A judge at Glasgow High Court paid tribute to the “incredible fortitude” of the boy, who managed to alert the emergency services despite his injuries.
First offender Fortune admitted to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Lord Matthews cut the term from eight to six years due to the guilty plea.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC earlier told how Fortune was involved in racing stock cars mainly at a track in Lochgelly, Fife.
He had been there on the night of the incident as a spectator.
Mr Goddard: “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’.”
Despite this, he later drove off in his 4×4 and headed on the A92.
John meantime was on the same road on 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.
‘My mum is going to kill me’
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.
Fortune carried on for half a mile before locking and abandoning his 4×4.
He 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 was ‘soul mate’
John was found still in the car, but unresponsive. The baby was upside down in his baby seat.
Attempts were made 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 4×4 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.
They later returned and Fortune was breathalysed. He found to have 75mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mg.
Fortune stated he had drank 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.
Sentencing, Lord Matthews said John was a “soul mate” and much loved to the relatives affected by his loss.
Paying tribute to the boy getting help, the judge told Fortune: “This is all the more remarkable given his understandable state of hysteria. He is a credit (to those who know him).”
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