Jamie Anderson pulled out of a junction at the A8 in Port Glasgow into the path of an oncoming HGV lorry which smashed into the rear of his Vauxhall Corsa — where Alexander Campbell, 19, was sitting.

Mr Anderson, 20 — who has pled guilty to careless driving — is today awaiting sentence after admitting to a fatal ‘misjudgement of time and distance’.

His lawyer Gerry Devaney told Greenock Sheriff Court: “Mr Anderson is a young man who has been badly affected by this matter and who constantly revisits it and the consequences for his friend.

“It is never far from his thoughts.” Prosecutor Pamela Brady told how both of Mr Campbell’s lungs collapsed as a result of the impact on 12 April last year.

He suffered bleeding around his brain as well as aortic dissection — which is a tear in the wall of the major artery which carries blood from the heart.

A hushed court heard how Mr Anderson — who had passed his driving test five months earlier — ‘remained with his friend’ in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

Solicitor Mr Devaney told how his client had a longstanding friendship with Mr Campbell since school, adding: “He was part of the efforts to help Mr Campbell.

“He held and supported his friend’s head while more qualified people carried out interventions.

“He was right there at his side.” The court heard how the two pals and three other friends in the car were off to spend a Saturday together when the collision occurred at around 8.30 in the morning.

Mr Anderson had stopped at a give way junction at Port Glasgow’s Bay Street then pulled out into the path of the truck.

Fiscal depute Mrs Brady said: “The HGV driver immediately braked and swerved to avoid a collision.

“However, the truck’s front bumper collided with the rear offside of the Corsa, where Mr Campbell, inset, was seated.

“At the time witnesses stopped to see if they could provide assistance.” The court heard that two of those people were a doctor and a nurse, and both women immediately went to Mr Campbell’s aid.

Mrs Brady said: “Both medical professionals performed CPR on him until the arrival of an ambulance.

“He was unconscious and his hands and lips were showing signs of cyanosis.” The fiscal depute added: “Another rear seat passenger could not be removed from the car, and firefighters removed the roof of the vehicle in order to get to him.

“Mr Campbell was transferred to the intensive care unit at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank but unfortunately his condition failed to improve.

“Subsequent tests showed that he had no brain function and he was pronounced dead on 20 April, eight days after the collision.

“Police concluded that the collision was the fault of Jamie Anderson. He effectively drove into the path of the HGV.” The court heard that Mr Anderson was later interviewed by police with a solicitor present and made no comment throughout — and no reply when he was cautioned and charged.

Lawyer Mr Devaney said: “What happened was a misjudgement of time and distance.

“There were no aggravating offences. Mr Anderson was fully insured, it was his own car, he had a full licence, was not speeding and has no previous convictions.

“None of the others in the car were seriously injured.” Sheriff Derek Hamilton deferred sentence for background reports.

Mr Anderson, of Waverley Street, Greenock, is due to return to court on 26 March.