8:48AM, Thu Jul 12, 2012

Newcastle Man Jailed For Causing Scotland Death Crash

By Hugh Macknight Location: Edinburgh

A Newcastle man was jailed for eight years for causing the death of his friend in a horrifying crash which ended with a car stuck upside down in flooded marshland.

Anthony Grant, 21, of Bellister Grove, told rescuers trying to prevent him drowning that he was alone in the car.

However, his passenger - John Quinnin, 22, - was still in the vehicle at the time. He died after suffering a major chest injury

Mr Quinnin, of Front Street, Cramlington, had travelled to Scotland for a holiday having learned he had landed his dream job at Nissan's Washington car plant after being made redundant.

Grant, a former baker, was jailed by Judge Lady Stacey at Edinburgh High Court.

He had been drinking when he lost control of his black Vauxhall Vectra at 86mph on a notorious accident black spot on the A75 in Dumfriesshire, Southern Scotland.

The car took off after hitting a kerb and crashed through a hazard marker post and trees before colliding with a telegraph pole and rolling down an embankment, landing on its roof.

Rescuers heard Grant scream that he was drowning as the car began to sink. When asked if anyone else was in the car he said it was just himself, the court heard.

A paramedic smashed the driver's window with a torch and cut the seatbelt to free Grant from the wreckage.

It was only they that they realised Mr Quinnin was still in the car.

The former Stephenson High School pupil had no pulse and firefighters had to force open the front passenger door to get his body out.

Grant, who had no driving licence, claimed there had been three people in the car, prompting a search of the area.

When asked the identity of the driver he replied: "I have no idea."

Grant admitted causing Mr Quinnin's death by driving carelessly while over the drink drive limit on 8 June 2011 on the A75 road near Kirkcowan in Wigtownshire.