A WOMAN was killed at the scene of a road smash on her way home from band practice after being hit by a speeding car, a court heard today.

Joan Price, 59, was seen by her friend Gillian Kay “slumped over the steering wheel” after they were hit by a car on the A77 in Ayr on January 30, last year.

Miss Kay, 40, a passenger in the car, recalled a dark shape moving towards them “what looked like at very high speed” but doesn't remember the impact.

She described sitting low down in her seat, “smelling the smokey smell from the airbags” and unable to get out.

Miss Kay was giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow of John Gribben, 19, from Ayr who is accused of causing the death of Mrs Price by dangerous driving and injuring Miss Kay to her permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

Gribben is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by driving off from the scene in an attempt to avoid detection and another charge of dangerous driving on March 31, last year.

Jurors heard Miss Kay suffered a fractured left heel, tore a tendon in her shoulder as well as cuts and bruises.

She was in hospital for two weeks after the crash that killed her friend and has been unable to work since.

The court heard the women were returning home from band practice and often took turns driving.

Miss Kay – who still uses crutches and may need surgery - described Mrs Price as “a very careful driver”.

She told how they turned from the Holmston roundabout on to the A77 and saw head lights.

The witness said “The next thing I was aware of, a dark shape coming what looked like at very high sped towards us.

“That's the last thing I remember, I don't remember the impact itself.”

Advocate depute Michael Meehan, prosecuting, asked: “What's the next thing you remember after that?”

Miss Kay replied: “I remember sitting in the car feeling I was sitting quite low down, I have been told the seat I was sitting in actually broke on impact.

“I remember smelling the smokey smell from the airbags.”

Mr Meehan asked: “What about Joan, were you able to see her or hear her at all?”

The witness answered: “Yes, I could see her and she was kind of slumped over the dashboard – the steering wheel.”

She said neither were able to get out of the car and she had to be cut out by the fire brigade.

It was put to Miss Kay that Mrs Price was dead in the car and she said “I believe so, yes”.

Mr Meehan asked what impact the collision has had on her.

She told the jury: “While I'm very fortunate still to be here the accident had a big impact on my life.

“I have lost a friend, I have lost the job I was supposed to start the week after the accident, obviously I have lost a lot of my independence, not able to drive at the minute.”

The witness estimated Mrs Price was driving at around 40 or 50 mph before the collision.

Gribben denies the charges and the trial before judge Sean Murphy QC continues.

Logan Knox, 20, also described racing John Gribben from Whitletts roundabout, along the A77 - see here