Drunk driver killed man in Taynuilt hit-and-run

Robert Brown, 26, collided with James Harris, 61, near Taynuilt on October 10, 2021.

 

Brown drank alcohol at a hotel before he got behind the wheel of his Skoda car.

 

He later struck Mr Harris and left him for dead before he travelled to Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire.

 

He later claimed to police that he thought he had hit a deer, despite looking up a news report on the incident.

 

Brown pleaded guilty on January 25 at the High Court in Glasgow to causing Mr Harris’ death by dangerous driving. The accused sobbed throughout the court narration of events and he was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.

 

The court heard that Mr Harris, a dad-of-two, had been at a friend’s birthday party with his wife.

 

A ferry motorman, Mr Harris left the party alone at the end of the night and took the "dark" route back home on an unlit road.

 

Brown, of Shotts in Lanarkshire, meantime was staying at a hotel in Taynuilt for work.

 

CCTV showed Brown drinking alcohol and shots before he left the hotel in his car, with his belongings, around 12.15am.

 

The exact details of the collision are unknown as there were no eye witnesses but it is believed the crash happened around 12.30am.

 

Prosecutor Gavin Anderson said Mr Harris was walking towards the east bound lane.

 

He added: "The passenger door made impact with the kerb before returning to the lane. The nearside bumper came into contact with Mr Harris’ legs - the bumper and headlamp were damaged.

 

"Mr Harris’ upper legs and lower abdomen came into contact with the Skoda, leaving damage to the vehicle. Mr Harris’ lower left leg came into contact with the nearside front wing.

 

"The rear of his head came into contact with the nearside a-pillar where it meets the top of the windscreen.

 

"He was projected from the Skoda and entered the northside lane before he came to rest adjacent to the grass verge."

 

It was accepted by Brown that he was travelling in excess of the 30 miles per hour speed limit.

 

A member of the public found he victim on the road unconscious with a serious head injury after 1am.

 

A 999 call was made and he was pronounced dead at 1.39am. Mr Anderson said Mr Harris was "immediately dead" following the collision.

 

He was found to have suffered multiple skull and rib fractures, a fractured spleen and a fractured pelvis.