A stock car racer had been downing vodka before he killed a Royal Navy veteran on the A92 in Fife and fled the scene.
Marc Fortune, 28, was behind the wheel of his 4×4 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.
Mr King – who had served in the Royal Navy for 25 years – did not survive the crash on September 12 2020.
A young boy and a baby in the car were also hurt but survived.
A judge heard it was the “remarkable courage” of the boy injured in the crash who brought the emergency services to the scene late at night.
Fortune – who had earlier been spotted swigging vodka at a stock car meeting – drove off and later told a friend: “My mum is going to kill me.”
Swigged vodka before crash
First offender Fortune now faces a lengthy jail term after he pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC told how Fortune was involved in racing stock cars, mainly at the track in Lochgelly.
He had been there 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’.”
Despite being described as “tipsy”, Fortune later drove off in his 4×4 onto the A92.
Mr King 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.
Mr King was on the inside lane when he was suddenly struck by Fortune’s vehicle.
Mr Goddard said: “The offside doors burst open and the roof, as well as the rear of the vehicle, were severely damaged.”
Fled the scene
It was estimated Fortune had been travelling “at a speed in excess” of the 70mph at which Mr King was travelling.
Instead of stopping to help, Fortune carried on for half a mile before locking and abandoning his 4×4.
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, stating: “My mum is going to kill me – I just hit it. They locked up the brakes and I just hit it.”
Young hero
The court heard the older boy had meantime managed to clamber out of the wrecked Vauxhall.
Mr Goddard said: “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 (Mr King) and the other child.
“Towards the end of the call, he approached the road and used his mobile phone torch to successfully guide police.”
Mr King, of Ballingry, was still in the car and unresponsive.
The baby was upside down in the baby seat.
Attempts were made save Mr King but he never recovered from head, neck and chest injuries.
Both children suffered cuts and remained in hospital overnight.
Police trace accused
Police found Fortune’s 4×4 and he was traced in bed at his father’s home in Kirknewton, Midlothian the next morning.
He had to be woken 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 his claims and found he was lying.
They later returned and Fortune was breathalysed and found to be more than three times the drink-drive limit (75/ 22 mics).
Fortune stated he had drunk three vodka and cokes before officers had come back.
Brother’s tribute
The court heard Mr King is survived by his wife of 34 years, as well as five brothers, two stepchildren and five grandchildren.
Posting on social media after the death, his brother David King said: “It’s very hard to put into words about how I feel just now about the death of my big brother John, but gutted is one word I could use.
“RIP John you will never be forgotten.”
It was also stated in court the boy in the crash, who cannot be named, 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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