Speeding driver killed girlfriend in 100mph crash

A speeding driver killed his girlfriend when he crashed while going at 100mph.

Sam Barber was behind the wheel of his new BMW 315i he had picked up the day before the collision.

The 28-year-old lost control of the car on the A72 in Biggar, Lanarkshire, before the vehicle flipped onto its roof.

Passenger Beth Damer, 20, – who had been in a relationship with Barber for a year – did not survive the crash on March 12, 2022.

Barber faces a lengthy jail term after he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow.

It emerged the forestry worker already had previous convictions for careless driving and speeding.

He also had six points on his licence at the time.

Barber, of Peebles in the Scottish Borders, will be sentenced in October.

The court heard how Miss Damer – an NHS clinical support worker – had gone with her partner to collect his new car the evening before the crash.

On the afternoon of the incident, the couple were in the BMW when witnesses described it as “shooting past”.

One stated: “I watched in disbelief. I believe the car could have been well in excess of 90mph.

“I am well aware that on the road there is a camber, which made the speed of the car ridiculous.”

Another driver recalled the BMW then “losing control” before it hit a fence and ploughed into a field.

The car also rolled onto its roof once or twice.

The witness stated: “He went past me… as if like a rally car sliding at an angle.”

People rushed to the crash scene to help as Barber frantically waved for assistance.

The passenger door was ripped off and Miss Damer was trapped under the badly damaged car.

Prosecutor James Irvine said emergency crews arrived including a doctor flown in by helicopter.

Miss Damer, of Crawford, Lanarkshire, suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision.

The court heard she is survived by her parents and two younger brothers.

Barber – who was also hurt – was heard by a police officer that afternoon to state: “I hate myself.”

Mr Irvine told the hearing: “Collision investigators examined the scene and formed the opinion Barber was driving at a speed of 103mph.

“The A72 is restricted to a national speed limit for cars of 60mph.”

He added the cause of the crash was “solely” how fast the BMW was going.

Marco Guarino, defending, later told the court: “Rarely have I seen such devastation in an accused person, but that is nothing to what the family of Beth Damer are suffering.

“Nothing will make up for their loss.”

The solicitor advocate asked for the dad to remain on bail stating the guilty plea had only recently been agreed and Barber had personal matters to sort.

However, he was “under no illusion” he will eventually be jailed.

Lord Arthurson said in the “exceptional” circumstances he would continue bail, but said Barber will receive a “very significant” jail term when he is sentenced in October in Edinburgh.

Barber was disqualified from driving meantime.