Family finds David Armstrong’s death ‘unbearable’.
A fireman confronted with the body of his partner’s son at a road smash is still traumatised by the discovery almost a year on.
Scott MacDonald was called to the accident near Tyninghame, East Lothian, last November and was devastated to discover partner Andrea Kelly’s son David Armstrong was among the three dead.
The horrifying moment haunts the lifesaver, Andrea revealed last night.
David, 15, died alongside Jenna Barbour, 18, and Joshua Stewart, 16, when driver Robbie Gemmell, 17, lost control of the car and hit a wall.
Firefighter Scott was one of the emergency service personnel who found David’s body 15 metres from the car.
“Scott was devastated to discover it was David’s body,” said Andrea, 40, of Dunbar. He then told police he would break the news to me in the hope it might be easier to take.
“He arrived at the door in his firefighting gear and as soon as I saw the look on his face I knew something terrible had happened. He is still struggling with this. We all are.
“David would want us to go on with our lives but we’re finding it unbearable.”
Brave mum Andrea was speaking out in the hope she can prevent future accidents.
She added: “David was the best son anyone could have had. He was kind and generous and hated to see anyone suffer. So we have to stop this carnage happening to anyone else’s child.
“I want the law changed so that young drivers cannot carry passengers until they are 21 or 25. Surely that will save lives and spare other families this nightmare.”
Driver Gemmell was banned from driving for four years and sentenced to 300 hours of community service at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on September 19.
“We didn’t want Robbie to go to jail but feel a longer ban would have been better,” Andrea said. “No family should have to bury a son or daughter killed like this.”
The heartbroken families of the other victims have also issued warnings against dangerous driving.
Joshua’s parents, Mark and Susan Stewart, issued a statement saying: “There are no winners or losers in this case. There are four families that have been devastated by this horrendous incident.”
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard earlier this month how Gemmell told his pal Josh, as he lay dying in front of him: “I love you.”
Accident investigators reckoned the Peugeot was travelling at a minimum of 50 to 54mph in the moments before the collision.
The court heard how David had been thrown from the car upon impact and that emergency service workers found his lifeless body 50ft from the vehicle.
It emerged Gemmell originally told officers that Jenna had been driving, but later confessed to being behind the wheel.
Defence QC John Scott said his client suffered from depression and was haunted by the memory of seeing his best friends die.
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