Banned drunk driver killed friend in crash before evading police for six months

A banned driver who was under the influence of drink and drugs killed his friend in a crash before evading police for six months.

Stephen McGuire, 21, was speeding behind the wheel of the stolen Skoda Superb when he smashed into another car near the Rangers training ground in Milngavie on February 23, 2023.

Ryan Wheeler, 21, was a backseat passenger in the Skoda and did not survive.

A 17-year-old girl was freed from the wreckage, but still continues to receive treatment at a brain injury clinic more than a year later.

Prosecutors ordered McGuire to be charged in November 2023 after a probe into the crash, but they could not trace him.

He was finally held in May this year and appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.

McGuire pleaded guilty to causing the death of Ryan as well as the serious injury of the 17-year-old girl by dangerous driving.

A judge told him it was “one of the worst” of these types of cases that he had heard.

McGuire was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.

The court heard how unemployed McGuire had never held a driving licence.

He was disqualified at the time, having been banned from the road in August 2022 for a road traffic offence.

The fatal crash occurred on Auchenhowie Road in Milngavie around 9pm that night.

An Asda delivery driver recalled the Skoda whizzing by at such a speed that it made him “jump”. McGuire also went through a red light.

A couple were in their Audi going by the Rangers training centre when the Skoda went “flying past” and overtook them.

A man driving a Ford Tourneo in the opposite direction then saw McGuire’s car coming towards him.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC said the vehicles collided before the Skoda smacked into the Audi.

Mr Prentice: “The Skoda’s momentum resulted in it rolling onto its nearside before it flipped onto its roof and bonnet.”

Witnesses raced to help and saw people trapped in the Skoda, including Ryan.

McGuire was one of those who managed to clamber out and complained about having hurt his hand.

Two off-duty police officers happened to be in the area at the time.

They noticed both McGuire and a friend, who had also got out, smelled strongly of alcohol.

McGuire stated: “We have just been in an accident, and my hand is burst.”

The drink driver and his friend were described as “shouting and screaming”.

Aware they were talking to police, McGuire yelled to them as they tried to speak to the other young man: “I know what you f*g are. Stay away from him.”

He also ordered his friend: “Do not say anything, alright.”

McGuire then went on to claim to other officers that he had not been in a car.

Asked to identify the driver, he ranted: “How the f*** am I meant to know? I have not got a f***** scooby.”

McGuire was found to have least 77mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 50mg.

There was also the presence of a metabolite of a number of substances, including cocaine and ketamine.

Emergency crews tried to save Ryan at the scene, but he had suffered fatal injuries.

The court heard he had been living with his parents in Glasgow and is also survived by an older brother and sister.

Ryan had latterly been employed as a refuse worker.

The 17-year-old girl who had also been in the back of the Skoda was rushed to hospital that night.

Mr Prentice said she has “physically recovered”, but continues to need fortnightly checks with a hospital brain injury team in Glasgow.

The girl also takes daily medication for issues with her teeth.

A fourth passenger survived seemingly unhurt.