Drunk driver high on cocaine killed motorcylist in head-on crash

A drunk driver who had also taken cocaine before getting into his car killed a motorcyclist after crashing head-on into her.

Kyle Waddell, 23, had previously been banned from the road when he hit Natalie Hawkins while behind the wheel of his nearly 30-year-old Toyota Celica ST.

The 35-year-old law and business student was thrown from her Kawasaki bike and did not survive the crash on the A89 Broxburn to Airdrie road in West Lothian on August 11, 2023.

Waddell was jailed after he pled guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Natalie, of Livingston, was returning from dropping off shopping when she was struck.

She had recently got her bike licence and was “really careful” on her Kawasaki, avoiding busy roads.

Waddell, of Falkirk, Stirlingshire, had been in a pub that day, having finished work.

He then left the bar with a friend before being flagged down by another young man and a teenage boy for a lift.

The court heard, at one stage, Waddell quickly closed the gap on a vehicle in front.

Prosecutor Caroline Macbride told the hearing: “This other driver stated that when he saw the lights of the car approaching from behind, it appeared to be doing a fast speed between 70mph and 80mph.”

Waddell was said to be within “inches” of hitting the other vehicle.

The Toyota was then pulling out onto the wrong side of the road, seemingly with no view of what was travelling in the opposite direction.

The other drivers then spotted Natalie on her motorbike.

Ms Macbride said: “The Toyota was still on the opposing carriageway. The Toyota struck Natalie Hawkins head-on, throwing her from the motorcycle.”

It was stated that there was nothing the motorcyclist, who was also a part-time bus driver, could have done to avoid being hit.

The Toyota came off the road and landed on its roof.

Waddell and the others managed to clamber out of the car.

Emergency crews arrived to try to help Natalie, but she could not be saved.

The court heard that Waddell later tested positive for cocaine and alcohol.

The hearing was told that Waddell’s initial position was that the other car in front had been going slower than he anticipated and that a collision was imminent, so he had moved out to avoid a bump.

It emerged that Waddell had received a fixed penalty for speeding in 2021.

He was then banned for 14 days the following year for the same offence.

Waddell had been on bail, but his lawyer, Marco Guarino, did not move for that to be continued.

Lady Drummond remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing for reports until next month.

Natalie’s grieving relatives paid tribute to her following the tragedy.

The family said: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.

“Natalie is an epitome of this quote and has left a void in the hearts of her two daughters and anyone who knew her.”