Coked-up joyrider fell asleep at wheel before ploughing into taxi
A 16-year-old joyrider fell asleep at the wheel after taking cocaine and seriously injured three people after crashing head-on into a taxi.
Schoolboy Josh McBride, 19, nodded off and drifted into the opposing carriageway before smashing into the cab being driven by Garry McInness.
A heroic witness arrived at the scene and dragged three of the victims from the blazing wreckaghe of the vehicles after initially thinking they were dead.
A passing fire crew - on their way to a training exercise - were able to bring the burning cars under control as medics took the victims to hospital.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told that unqualified McBride had driven his friend's VW Golf across the country to try and stay overnight at a family caravan in St Andrews.
But when they couldn't access the caravan, McBride and his friends spent the night sleeping in the car before setting off to drive to Livingston the next morning.
McBride, Hamilton Gardens, Armadale, admitted driving dangerously and under the influence of drugs in Main Street, Dairsie, Fife, on 2 October 2022.
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He admitted seriously injuring Gordon Docherty, Garry McInness and Joseph Brownlie by falling asleep, driving on the wrong side of the road, and crashing into a VW Touran taxi.
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer told the court: "The accused was 16 and at school at the time. He did not hold a driving licence. He and Joseph Brownlie went out in the early hours."
She said they got in the third person's car with them and decided to drive to St Andrews. At the time of the crash McBride had three passengers.
"They were unable to gain access to the caravan. They attended the beach and slept in the vehicle. At 7.30 am they woke up in the car. Mr Brownlie asked if McBride would drive to Livingston."
At one point in the journey, Mr Brownlie became aware of the vehicle crossing the centre of the road and he shouted at McBride but got no reaction as he was asleep.
"Mr Brownlie grabbed the steering wheel to try and avoid a collision. The Golf was observed to drift over into the opposite carriageway and into the path of Mr McInness' vehicle.
"There was extensive damage to the front of both vehicles. A witness looked at Mr McInness and thought he was dead. The vehicle was going on fire.
"The witness also found two males on top of each other in the rear footwell and he thought they were dead. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crew were passing on their way to a training exercise.
"They assisted with the extinction of the fire before it took hold. McBride was identified as the driver. He provided a positive saliva test for cocaine."
The court was told Mr Brownlie sustained multiple spinal injuries, while Mr Docherty had a fractured collarbone as well as whiplash injuries and bruising.
Mr McInness, who had no memory after picking up his fare in Cupar, sustained several fractures and a torn spleen and was unable to leave the house for two months after the crash.
He was only able to return to work in an office-based role at the taxi firm, and later had to give up a job as a bus driver because of the anxiety he suffered from.
Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed an interim driving ban on McBride and granted him bail while pre-sentence background reports are prepared.
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