A hit-and-run driver who fatally injured a schoolboy as he crossed a road is facing jail.
Brian Buchanan, 22, struck 15-year-old Steven McIlquham in the evening of New Year's Day 2020. Steven had been visiting his grandparent's home and had been walking back to his house when tragedy struck around 9.30pm
He had been told to return home at 10pm but when he failed to appear, his mother Amanda went to Motherwell police station to report him missing. While she was there, officers informed her that her son had been involved in a fatal collision with a car.
A court heard the impact caused the teenager to smash the windscreen of the car before he was sent over the top of the vehicle and onto the ground. But instead of stopping, Buchanan carried on driving his Volkswagen Golf and went to his girlfriend's house where he appeared to be in 'shock' and 'visibly upset'.
Emergency services raced to the scene in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, but Steven could not be saved by medics and he died of multiple injuries. Buchanan later also went to Motherwell police station to hand himself in and was arrested.
He told his girlfriend shortly after the incident: "I think someone ran out in front of me, what do I do now?"
When asked by police what had happened, he replied: "I just panicked and drove away."
Experts estimated he had been travelling at 45mph on a 30mph stretch of road when he collided with Steven. Buchanan, of Shotts, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted causing death by careless driving in January 2020.
He also pled guilty to failing to stop and give details in the aftermath of the incident.
Depute fiscal Harry Findlay said: "On impact, Steven was thrown onto the bonnet and his head struck the windscreen shattering the glass. As the motor vehicle continued Steven passed over the top of the vehicle and fell to the ground striking his head on the carriageway approximately 12 metres from the area of impact.
"He then slid for 11.2 metres before coming to rest. The accused drove off and did not remain at the scene.
"There was no evidence of emergency braking prior or post impact. When Steven failed to arrive as previously arranged, his family traced his movements.
"They attended at Motherwell police office to report him missing but it was then established that the description matched that of the person at the collision site."
The prosecutor added: "The accused's standard of driving fell below that of what would be expected of a competent driver. He drove his motor car and approached the collision site at excessive speed, failed to maintain observations and failed to see Steven on the roadway and failed to take evasive action with fatal consequences.
"He failed to stop as required by law although did attend a police station."
Sheriff Martin Jones KC deferred sentence on Buchanan until November and continued bail. Buchanan was disqualified from driving.
Paying tribute to her son, his mum Amanda earlier said: "Steven will be remembered as a fun-loving and caring boy by all those around him. He had a smile that would light up a room. All he wanted to do was make people laugh and have a good time.
"There was not one bad bone in his body."
An online fundraiser raised £5,645 to support his family.
READ NEXT:
Police shut down Wyndford in Maryhill as officer assaulted and taken to hospital
Woman in court over phone call threat to kill husband if he didn't come home
Mum's C-section pain was cervical cancer as she faces the 'fight of her life'
Glasgow city centre a no go area for some as almost half of residents say it has got worse
Pervert snared by vigilantes after being caught sending explicit pictures to 'teen girl'
