Driver, 17, sang Shaggy's ‘It wasn't me' after mowing down care home worker who lost unborn baby in horror hit-&-run

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

An emergency C-section was carried out in an attempt to save the unborn child's life
CRASH HORROR Driver, 17, sang Shaggy's 'It wasn't me' after mowing down care home worker who lost unborn baby in horror hit-&-run
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A HIT-and-run driver, 17, sang Shaggy's "It wasn't me" after running over a pregnant care home worker.
Renju Joseph, 31, tragically lost her unborn child after she was mowed down on a pedestrian crossing in Lancashire on September 29 last year.
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Tributes were left at the scene for Renju Joseph's unborn baby Olive
Credit: Dave Nelson
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Ashir Shahid searched 'charge for hit and run human' before his arrest
Credit: PA
Ashir Shahid, now 20, was barreling through Bamber Bridge village, near Preston, in his Toyota Prius at speeds of up to 71mph in the 30mph zone.
He struck the five-months pregnant care home worker and she was "thrown into the air", Preston Crown Court heard.
Renju has been walking with colleagues on her way to work when the tragedy unfolded at around 7.50pm.
Paramedics rushed her to hospital with head and spinal injuries.
Prosecutor Emma Keogh told the court: "It also became apparent that the life of her unborn child was in severe jeopardy.
"An emergency C-section had to be carried out in an attempt to save the unborn child's life.
"The placenta had ruptured and Mrs Joseph had bled quite heavily.
"Her child was born that evening but sadly he only survived for a few hours before passing away.
"This was her very first pregnancy with her husband who she married about five years earlier. This was a planned pregnancy and very much wanted."
Renju spent several weeks in intensive care and had to relearn how to walk after a three month hospital stay.
The court heard another motorist had witnessed the Prius driver accelerating around 15 metres before the crossing.
They then swerved before hitting the 31-year-old and narrowly missing fellow pedestrians.
The witness claimed Renju was "thrown into the air for quite some distance".
Ms Keogh told the court: "It was very clear from footage in both the lead-up and the aftermath that the Toyota was driven at speed.
"It was clear that throughout the journey the driving by Ashir Shahid left a lot to be desired."
Video evidence from a front seat passenger in Shahid's car revealed the pair had been joking around before the crash while driving at high speed.
The passenger was also seen dangling his feet out of the window while the driver periodically let go of the steering wheel.
Investigations then revealed the defendant had searched "charge for hit and run human" just 11 seconds after the horror.
He and another man were also seen at Frankie's Chicken Shop, laughing about the crash.
One of them was overheard saying: "I'm basically with a murderer."
After spotting CCTV he told a staff member behind the counter: "If anyone asks for this video, don't give it them. This guy is a criminal."
While the men were still in the chicken shop, a flat bed truck picked up the Prius after it was abandoned in a nearby village.
Police later discovered it had been transported to Greater Manchester.
One of the men checked his phone in the hours after the incident and said: "That's the woman. She's in hospital."
Meanwhile a clip from Shahid's snapchat showed him singing along to the Shaggy song It Wasn't Me and laughing.
Officers detained Shahid at a property in Kirkham after he hid at a friends house until October 2.
Shahid, of Windsor Road, Walton le Dale, Preston, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Renju's baby Olive by dangerous driving.
He also admitted causing serious injury to Renju by dangerous driving.
Shahid will be sentenced on Friday alongside a 17-year-old male who pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.