Former lecturer admits causing fatal crash while drink-driving after work party

A former college lecturer has admitted killing a husband and wife in a head-on crash while drink-driving after a work Christmas party.

Sophie Hynd caused the deaths of Jatinder Kaur, 48, and her husband Satwant Singh, 64, on the B981 in Cluny, Fife, on December 19 last year.

Hynd, 33, who lost her job teaching computer animation at Fife College, wept as she was remanded in custody at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Michael O'Grady KC described the offence as "very grave".

The family said they were still coming to terms with the "devastating loss".

The court heard that the crash happened following Christmas lunch and drinks on the last day of the college term.

Hynd, from Kirkcaldy, had been drinking alcohol including cider, spritz, Prosecco and possibly a Guinness shot.

She left to go home at about 22:30 and was seen to be unsteady on her feet.

Advocate depute Lynsey Rodger said: "The accused was described as 'pretty merry' by one colleague and 'pretty drunk' by another."

Drivers called 999 after seeing Hynd's Nissan Qashqai moving erratically and swerving into the opposing carriageway.

At the time Jatinder Kaur was driving the family's Volkswagen Polo, making deliveries with her husband and their children in the car.

The family ran the Keystore grocery store in Kirkcaldy.

The couple's 19-year-old daughter Parveet was in the front passenger seat.

The court heard that she said 'mum, car' when she saw Hynd's vehicle travelling towards them in the middle of the road.

The advocate depute added: "The accused's vehicle crashed head-on, which caused both vehicles to come to a stop."

Other drivers who witnessed Hynd's erratic driving stopped to try and help, with police and paramedics arriving a short time later.

Rodger said that at the scene police observed that Hynd "smelled of alcohol and appeared to not know she had been in a collision".

Kaur was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. Satwant Singh was taken to hospital where he died two days later.

Hynd was arrested and charged in May this year.

Defence lawyer Ewen Roy said that she recognised that her actions had "devastating consequences which weigh on her heavily".

Judge O'Grady told Hynd: "You understand the charge you have pled guilty to is very grave indeed.

"You have left in your wake a dead husband and wife."

In a statement, the family said "we will miss them more than words can express".

They added: "Mum was always there for us, whether we needed her advice, reassurance or someone to talk to, she always made things better.

"Nothing was ever too much trouble for Dad, he loved Mum and us more than anything.

"It's incredibly difficult to accept they won't be there to share the important milestones in our lives."

The case is due to call again in October.