Driver Jailed for Fatally Crashing After 14-Hour Drive

A 31-year-old man, Edward Carty, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after causing the death of his girlfriend, Rebecca Tasker, in a tragic car accident. The incident occurred on August 12, 2022, when Carty, who was banned from driving, fell asleep at the wheel while driving on the A90 road near Errol, Perthshire. The vehicle veered off the road, crashed down an embankment, and struck trees, resulting in Tasker's death. Judge Lord Young, presiding over the case at the High Court in Edinburgh, described the consequences of the crash as "devastating." He highlighted the impact on Tasker's family, particularly her two young children, aged seven and ten, who survived the crash but will now grow up without their mother. Tasker suffered severe spinal and neck injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while Carty and a teenage friend escaped with minor injuries. Carty, who had been on a lengthy road trip prior to the accident, admitted to driving dangerously. He later expressed remorse for his actions through his defense solicitor, Brian Bell, who noted that Carty and Tasker had been in a relationship for only six weeks at the time of the incident. The court also revealed Carty's extensive criminal history, including previous convictions for driving offenses and violence, which contributed to his lengthy driving ban of nine years and four months.