Drunk driver returned to pub after killing man in bus-stop crash

A drunk driver who returned to the pub after smashing into a bus stop and killing a 70-year-old man has been told he is facing prison.

Martin Henderson, 30, was travelling at more than double the speed limit when he lost control of his car while overtaking and crashed into people waiting at a bus stop in Aberdeen.

Allan Forbes, 70, was thrown into a nearby car park by the force of the impact, sustained “catastrophic, unsurvivable injuries” and died at the scene at Inverurie Road, Bucksburn.

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Chloe Donaldson, then 18, who was waiting a short distance from the bus shelter, was severely injured and now has metal pins holding part of her leg together.

The High Court in Edinburgh.The High Court in Edinburgh.
The High Court in Edinburgh.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Henderson fled the scene for a nearby pub, where he ordered a pint and then returned home to Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, told his partner he had “f***ed up”, opened two cans of lager, reported his car stolen to the police and fell asleep on the couch.

The former engineering supervisor for an offshore oil company pleaded guilty on Tuesday to causing death by dangerous driving and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The court heard he has six previous convictions for driving offences, including drink driving, speeding and careless driving, and has previously been given three driving bans.

Judge Lord Mulholland told Henderson, who was tearful throughout the hearing, he is facing prison, having turned his car into “a lethal weapon” on November 9 last year.

Advocate depute Graeme Jessop told the court Henderson visited two pubs in Inverurie on the evening of the crash, drinking two and a half pints, before getting behind the wheel of his BMW at around 7.30pm with a workmate as a passenger.

As he headed along the A96 towards Aberdeen, he drove at 60mph in a 40mph limit section, undertaking a car then straddling two lanes.

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