Driver Jailed for Fatal 108mph Crash
Fatal Recklessness on Aberdeenshire Road
Josh Buchan, 26, from Aberdeen, has been handed a seven-and-a-half-year custodial sentence for causing the death of his close friend, Ben Taylor, 19, in a horrific car crash in September 2022. Buchan, driving a high-performance Audi RS3, admitted to dangerous driving which resulted in the teenager's fatality.
The incident occurred on the B9077 road on the outskirts of Aberdeen when Buchan lost control of the vehicle at approximately 108mph. The car subsequently became airborne and collided with trees. While Buchan and another passenger managed to escape, Taylor tragically sustained fatal head injuries within the vehicle.
Collision investigators confirmed that Buchan's driving style was directly responsible for the loss of control. Furthermore, the court was presented with evidence of Buchan previously driving at speeds up to 125mph, a detail highlighted by a video clip found by Taylor's mother, Trudi Walsh.
Mother's Plea for Safer Roads
Judge Buchanan condemned Buchan's actions as "appallingly reckless" and imposed a significant driving disqualification of 10 years and 11 months in addition to the prison term. Defence counsel Neil Shand stated that Buchan, a mechanic, considered Ben Taylor his closest friend and recognised the grave consequences of his "stupid and reckless" driving would remain with him indefinitely.
Trudi Walsh, Ben Taylor's mother, described her son as "a generous soul" and expressed the profound, enduring pain her family endures. She powerfully articulated her hope that this tragic incident serves as a stark lesson to others about the critical dangers of excessive speed. "I just want people to think twice before they go out," she stated, emphasizing that driving in such a manner is a conscious choice with devastating repercussions.
