A drunk footballer has been jailed for four years after causing the death of a father in a crash in Inverclyde. Craig Forbes, 23, struck David Horn’s vehicle on the A78 on 15 October 2022. The Largs Thistle player was more than twice the alcohol limit when he overtook another vehicle when it was unsafe, moments before the collision.
Both vehicles rotated after the point of impact, with the 59-year-old victim becoming trapped inside. He later died in hospital from his injuries.
Forbes was also disqualified from driving for seven years and he must sit the extended test at the end of the ban.The junior footballer pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to causing Mr Horn’s death by dangerous driving.
The court heard how Mr Horn was driving home in his Toyota Yaris, having dropped his daughter off in Greenock at 23:20. Forbes had attended a wedding and was returning to Greenock in his Volkswagen Golf.
Shortly before the collision, Forbes overtook a car when it was unsafe to do so and collided with Mr Horn’s vehicle.A collision investigation determined that “it occurred as a result of Forbes, while impaired by alcohol, losing directional control of his car for an unknown reason. This caused the car to enter the southbound lane and strike the front of Mr Horn’s car.
“Mr Horn had insufficient time to take evasive action. Forbes was solely to blame for the collision which caused Mr Horn’s death.He went into full cardiac arrest during the journey and CPR was carried out. But his condition did not improve and he died in hospital later that night .
Judge Douglas Brown said he he had to consider the injuries Forbes himself suffered, his early guilty plea and the young person’s sentencing guidelines for offenders under 25.
The judge said he had read the victim impact statements from Mr Horn’s wife of 24 years Jaqueline and his two children and concluded that the effect of Mr Horn’s death was “devastating”.
He said: “These statements in eloquent moving terms describe the impact his death had upon them. It is clear from what they say that he was a loving and hugely supportive husband and father.
Source: BBC
