Dad who killed only son in crash after losing control of Audi at 137mph jailed
A dad who killed his teenage son in a car crash after driving at 137mph has been jailed for six years.
Craig Melville, 41, lost control of his Audi RS4 after accelerating away from police who had tried to stop him in March 2021.
His only child Craig junior, 16, died after the car smashed a wall with such force that the vehicle split into two.
A 15-year-old girl passenger was also left with life-changing injuries following the crash in the Highlands.
Former trucker Melville was today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to six years in prison after pleading to causing the death of his son and serious injury to the girl by dangerous driving.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Speaking to Melville, Lord Fairely said today: "While the tragedy is almost unimaginable, you will appreciate that the only sentence that I can appropriately impose is one of imprisonment.
Craig Melville has been jailed for six years (Daily Record)"Aggravating factors are your earlier conviction for speeding in 2020, the very serious injuries suffered by (the girl) and the reasonable inference that, at the time of the crash, you were trying to outrun a police vehicle.
"A substantial mitigating factor is that the person killed was a much-loved family member - your only child.
"That is something which will stay with you for the rest of your life."
Melville, also of Alness, will be banned from the road for 13 years.
Craig Melville pictured with his son, also Craig, who he killed. (Daily Record)The previous hearing was told how the teenage boy was an "adored" son to Melville and his wife.
He often spent time with his father working on cars and had an apprenticeship to train as a mechanic at the time.
The crash happened after Melville offered to take his son, the teenage girl and a woman for a drive after a birthday party.
He ended up on a road before coming to the attention of the police.
Craig Melville, 41, lost control of his Audi RS4 (Daily Record)Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC said: "The officers formed the view that he was travelling very significantly over the speed limit.
Disabled woman paralysed after falling from wheelchair on plane walkway dies
"Their detection device indicated the car was being driven at 137mph."
Police signalled for Melville to stop - he initially slowed on approach, but then accelerated as he instead passed them.
The woman who was the passenger later described feeling "uncomfortable and scared" as Melville was "definitely driving too fast".
Police tried to keep up, but lost sight of the Audi.
Just 32 seconds after Melville had passed the officers, he lost control at a right-hand bend with fatal consequences.
The motor left the road, and hit a stone wall before splitting into two parts.
Craig was thrown from the vehicle and was discovered in a field around 40 metres away. He never recovered from his injuries.
The teenage girl was trapped under the rear section of the Audi. She was left needing surgery and physiotherapy after suffering burns, multiple fractures and internal injuries.
The woman in the car was left with cuts and bruises. Melville meantime spent a week in the hospital, but scans were unable to detect any injuries.
Neil Wilson, defending, today said the tragedy could have "ripped the family apart", but that relatives - including Melville's wife - remain "entirely supportive" of him.
He added: "He knows what happened is because he was driving too fast."
Lord Fairley cut the jail-term from nine years due to the guilty plea.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
