By Claire Warrender and Charlene Kelly

A FIFE TEENAGER told yesterday how he watched in horror as his three best friends died in a horrific car crash on their way home from a night out.

Scott Stewart revealed he would have been in the Vauxhall Vectra which careered off the road and into a tree on Tuesday night had it not been for a last-minute change of plan.

The 16-year-old swapped places with pal Chris Mallin, also 16, after deciding to travel back with another friend, but the car Chris was in spun out of control on the Standing Stane Road, killing him, driver Peter Reilly (21) and front seat passenger Brian Wight (16).

All three dead were from Kennoway.

Scott was travelling behind in a Ford Mondeo with friends Sonia Bisset and James Allan, who all saw the crash.

Scott said, “If I hadn’t swapped with Chris it would have been me.”

The accident was just two-and-a-half years after a similar one which killed local teenagers Kyle Rettie, Thomas McKinlay and Raymond Murray.

Fife road policing inspector John McDonald described the accident as tragic, and added, “This was a traumatic collision which will hit the local community hard as the memories of the previous triple fatality are still fresh in their minds.”

Scott, Chris and Brian had spent the evening in Kirkcaldy with Peter, who only recently regained his licence after a nine-month ban for dangerous driving on Kirkcaldy’s Esplanade.

“We were playing the slot machines in the chip shops and watching people going up and down the prom,” said Scott.

“We met Sonia on the prom and I swapped cars with Chris because they wanted to stay at Pete’s and I just wanted to get home.

“He got in the back of Pete’s car and I got in the passenger seat of Sonia’s.”

Both cars left for home at around 10pm but were only halfway when tragedy struck.

Scott said, “Pete went to overtake a car in front of him.

“We saw a car coming the other way and saw Pete try to pull his car into the side.

“His left, front wheel hit the kerb and his car bounced over the road. It spun out of control and hit the tree.”

The Mondeo Scott was in also hit a tree on the other side of the road as Sonia desperately tried to stop, and Scott had to climb out of the window before rushing to his friends’ aid.

“I ran over to see if they were all right. I put the light on on my phone and I could see them all just lying there.

“Chris was crushed between the tree and the back seat.

“The tree had gone right through the car and wiped the engine right out.

“I just started screaming my heart out. I was screaming their names but they just wouldn’t wake up.”

Motorists stopped and called the emergency services, but all three had died instantly.

“I thought they still had a chance but it was the paramedics who told me they were dead,” said Scott.

The three 16-year-olds were all former pupils of Kennoway Primary and Buckhaven High.

All would have turned 17 within 10 days of each other next month and planned a joint celebration.

Brian recently moved to Leven, living with mum Sarah and sister Gillian (19), and was studying for an apprenticeship at Lauder College.

Chris, who completed an apprenticeship in joinery, is survived by mum Charlotte, dad Paul and sister Kerry (14).

Peter lived latterly in Buckhaven, but his mum Teresa lives in Kennoway. He also has a sister, Jane.

He trained as a butcher and worked as a delivery driver with the Lucky Star Chinese takeaway in Kennoway, but was said to be planning to join the army.