A TEENAGE driver killed two car passengers in a horrific crash after a convoy of ‘boy racers’ drove at around 100mph on an Irvine country road.

Gary Nicholson lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa as he hit speeds approaching 100mph and skidded across the road before colliding head-on with a Peugeot 206 driven by John Brown.

Mr Brown’s wife Patricia, 52, was pronounced dead by paramedics after the crash and a passenger in Nicholson’s car, Alec Stewart (18) later died after sustaining serious injuries.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told that another motorist saw Mr Brown, 64, at the grass verge after the collision and heard him say: “What have these boys done?”

That driver, Peter Shaw, had earlier been overtaken by a succession of vehicles and commented to his wife Caroline: “Boy racers, I’ll let them get by.”

Nicholson, now 20, of Kilwinning Road, Stewarton, admitted causing the death of Mrs Brown and Mr Stewart, both also of Stewarton, by driving dangerously at grossly excessive speed causing him to lose control and crash on April 20 last year on the B769 road between Irvine and Stewarton.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC said: “It is clear these families have been quite devastated by their respective losses. It is a tragic case which will affect many families.”

Three others, students Ewan Alvarez McLeod, of Cutsburn Place, and Yung Lau, of Eglintoun Road, both 20 and from Stewarton, and soldier Lee Copeland, 23, formerly of Perceton, Irvine, admitted driving dangerously at grossly excessive speed. All four are first offenders.

Mr Prentice said the accused and others had met in a car park at Sainsbury’s supermarket in Stewarton and were planning to travel to a “car cruise” event in Irvine.

Copland had attached a camera to a passenger window of his Volvo to record the vehicles in convoy and footage from it was shown to the court of the journey and the aftermath of the crash.

The prosecutor said that the cars driven by Lau, Nicholson and Alverez McLeod pulled away from the group and overtook Mr Shaw, who was travelling at about 40mph with his wife and young child. Mrs Shaw said they overtook “nose to tail”. About 20 seconds later Copeland also overtook the couple.

Mr Prentice said: “The convoy followed a long, straight stretch of road about 1.2 miles long, where the road undulates prior to the hidden dip.”

He said that as the entered the dip in the road a passenger in Lau’s car, Sean Beveridge, said: “We’ve hit the 100.”

He saw a Peugeot approaching from the opposite direction being driven safely and completely on its side of the road.

Mr Prentice said: “Nicholson continued to drive and at excessive speed behind Lau. Alverez McLeod continued to drive closely behind Nicholson, also at excessive speeds.”

“Copeland, also driving at excessive speeds, brought up the rear a short distance behind him. It is apparent from the camera footage that all four intended to keep the convoy intact,” he added.

He said that crash investigators said that all three vehicles in front of Copeland’s car at the moment he approached the collision site “must have been travelling at speeds approaching 100mph for a period of time”.

“Nicholson lost control of his vehicle due to his excessive speed and the vehicle fully crossed over the centre lines, onto the opposite carriageway, directly into the path of Mr Brown’s vehicle,” said Mr Prentice.

Mr Brown said he had become aware of the Corsa “skidding across the road” with “smoke belching from the wheels”.

He performed an emergency braking procedure, but after the collision Nicholson’s car then hit a tree and went into a field.

Alvarez McLeod swerved to avoid the crashed vehicles and his car went onto its side. He managed to climb out and made a 999 call.

Mrs Brown, who was returning from a short weekend break, was trapped in their car and died at the scene after suffering a head injury.

When Mr Shaw arrived at the scene he saw Nicholson’s Corsa in the field and went to the aid of the driver. He also saw Alec Stewart in the front passenger seat but was unable to open the door which was completely mangled.

He realised that the front of the car was smoking before going on fire and was joined by another man and they managed to pull Mr Stewart, who was injured but alive, from the wreckage. He had sustained multiple injuries and later died.

Factory worker Nicholson, who was 19 at the time, told police that it was his fault as he was “going too fast” and lost control.

The judge, Lady Scott, continued the case for background reports on all four and imposed interim disqualifications.

She continued bail but said they must appreciate that custodial sentences may be imposed.