Latest news with #dangerousdriver
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Driver who sped to 96mph before crash killing two teenagers is jailed
A dangerous driver who drove at speeds of up to 96mph while taking sips of lager before crashing into a car containing teenage friends and killing two of them has been jailed for 10 years. Natasha Allarakhia was 'literally drinking and driving' before she smashed her Audi Q2 into the back of a stationary Ford Fiesta on the A17 Newark Road in North Rauceby, Lincolnshire, on June 20 last year, killing a 17-year-old driver and an 18-year-old passenger who had just finished their A-levels. Lincoln Crown Court heard the 36-year-old lied to police at the scene for more than an hour about who had been driving while her two young daughters, who had been in the back of her car, were present. Allarakhia, of Turner Crescent, Norwich, pleaded guilty in June to causing the deaths of William Ray and Eddie Shore by dangerous driving, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving to one of the other two teenage passengers. On Monday, Judge James House KC handed Allarakhia the custodial sentence, disqualified her from driving for a total of more than 12 years, and said she must take an extended retest before she can drive again, adding that her drinking was not the cause of the collision. The defendant, who was not recorded as being over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the collision, sobbed in the dock with her head bent forward. She wore a burgundy dress with her hair in a bun, and at one point cried out 'I'm so sorry' while the teenagers' relatives read victim personal statements to the court. Mr Shore's mother Kerri Foster said: 'Everybody loved Eddie. He's gone and I'm heartbroken. I yearn for him constantly and remember all the special things about him. He was my baby boy.' William's mother Sarah Barker said: 'Will was such a caring, conscientious and compassionate person. Will has always been by my side, it's like part of my identity died with Will.' Prosecutor David Eager told the court that the group of friends had a 'pleasant evening' watching football and that William had not consumed any alcohol before getting behind the wheel, instead showing 'exemplary' driving. Mr Eager said William had applied the handbrake and footbrake at the temporary traffic lights that evening. The barrister said: 'He was sat talking to his friends at the lights when behind him this defendant drove her car. 'She was driving at that point, the Crown would say, at 96mph. Not only was she driving at 96mph, she was not paying attention to the road. 'She drove at speed into the back of that vehicle. Even with the tiny amount of braking she did, she hit that vehicle at 70mph. 'At the scene, when spoken to she said she was a passenger in the Audi. She said that the person who was driving was her partner's friend and he had run off. All of this took place in the presence of her two young children.' The court heard that Allarakhia applied her brakes on the 60mph limit road 37 metres before the collision point, but the temporary traffic lights would have been visible from 620 metres away. The court heard the defendant, whose partner was also a passenger in the car and was injured in the crash, was described as a 'fast driver who doesn't really concentrate', that she had been drinking earlier that day and took 'sips of lager from a can which she had been drinking from as she drove'. The cause of death for both teenagers was head injuries, while one of the two teenagers in the back of the car also suffered severe injuries to his hip. Edward Renvoize, defending Allarakhia, said: 'Her demeanour throughout this case has been one of genuine and deep remorse. 'Ms Allarakhia intends never to get behind the wheel of a car again.' The court heard she was disqualified from driving in January this year over failing to provide information about two speeding offences in the weeks before and after the fatal crash. The judge told the defendant: 'They were greatly loved, they are greatly missed. What comes through most of all is the opportunities lost.'
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Driver who sped to 96mph before crash killing two teenagers is jailed
A dangerous driver who drove at speeds of up to 96mph while taking sips of lager before crashing into a car containing teenage friends and killing two of them has been jailed for 10 years. Natasha Allarakhia was 'literally drinking and driving' before she smashed her Audi Q2 into the back of a stationary Ford Fiesta on the A17 Newark Road in North Rauceby, Lincolnshire, on June 20 last year, killing a 17-year-old driver and an 18-year-old passenger who had just finished their A-levels. Lincoln Crown Court heard the 36-year-old lied to police at the scene for more than an hour about who had been driving while her two young daughters, who had been in the back of her car, were present. Allarakhia, of Turner Crescent, Norwich, pleaded guilty in June to causing the deaths of William Ray and Eddie Shore by dangerous driving, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving to one of the other two teenage passengers. On Monday, Judge James House KC handed Allarakhia the custodial sentence, disqualified her from driving for a total of more than 12 years, and said she must take an extended retest before she can drive again, adding that her drinking was not the cause of the collision. The defendant, who was not recorded as being over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the collision, sobbed in the dock with her head bent forward. She wore a burgundy dress with her hair in a bun, and at one point cried out 'I'm so sorry' while the teenagers' relatives read victim personal statements to the court. Mr Shore's mother Kerri Foster said: 'Everybody loved Eddie. He's gone and I'm heartbroken. I yearn for him constantly and remember all the special things about him. He was my baby boy.' William's mother Sarah Barker said: 'Will was such a caring, conscientious and compassionate person. Will has always been by my side, it's like part of my identity died with Will.' Prosecutor David Eager told the court that the group of friends had a 'pleasant evening' watching football and that William had not consumed any alcohol before getting behind the wheel, instead showing 'exemplary' driving. Mr Eager said William had applied the handbrake and footbrake at the temporary traffic lights that evening. The barrister said: 'He was sat talking to his friends at the lights when behind him this defendant drove her car. 'She was driving at that point, the Crown would say, at 96mph. Not only was she driving at 96mph, she was not paying attention to the road. 'She drove at speed into the back of that vehicle. Even with the tiny amount of braking she did, she hit that vehicle at 70mph. 'At the scene, when spoken to she said she was a passenger in the Audi. She said that the person who was driving was her partner's friend and he had run off. All of this took place in the presence of her two young children.' The court heard that Allarakhia applied her brakes on the 60mph limit road 37 metres before the collision point, but the temporary traffic lights would have been visible from 620 metres away. The court heard the defendant, whose partner was also a passenger in the car and was injured in the crash, was described as a 'fast driver who doesn't really concentrate', that she had been drinking earlier that day and took 'sips of lager from a can which she had been drinking from as she drove'. The cause of death for both teenagers was head injuries, while one of the two teenagers in the back of the car also suffered severe injuries to his hip. Edward Renvoize, defending Allarakhia, said: 'Her demeanour throughout this case has been one of genuine and deep remorse. 'Ms Allarakhia intends never to get behind the wheel of a car again.' The court heard she was disqualified from driving in January this year over failing to provide information about two speeding offences in the weeks before and after the fatal crash. The judge told the defendant: 'They were greatly loved, they are greatly missed. What comes through most of all is the opportunities lost.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Friends and family of Andrew Cristillo call for legislative changes in the wake of deadly crash
Toronto Watch Friends and family of Andrew Cristillo are calling for legislative changes in the wake of his death by what authorities allege is a repeat dangerous driver. CTV's Jon Woodward reports.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Family of Ont. man killed in crash calls for stricter laws for dangerous driving, premier voices support
Andrew Cristillo was killed in a crash earlier this month, his family has launched a petition for stricter laws and penalties, calling it 'Andrews Law.' The family of an Ontario man who was killed in a crash involving an alleged repeat dangerous driver has launched a petition calling for legal changes in the wake of his death. 'This tragedy should have been prevented,' said Andrew Cristillo's younger brother, Jordan, saying his family is hoping even in death, the genial and humorous husband and father of three can make a positive difference for others through proposed changes they're calling 'Andrew's Law.' Jordan was speaking just outside the courthouse in Oshawa on Friday, where the accused driver, 18-year-old Jaiwin Kirubananthan, appeared at a bail hearing. Jordan Cristillo Jordan Cristillo speaking just outside a courthouse in Oshawa on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (CTV News) 'When we're allowing dangerous drivers on the road, we're gambling with other people's lives. That's why we're petitioning to bring forward the Andrew Law, where dangerous drivers that are charged are no longer allowed on the road,' Jordan said. 'It's a privilege, not a right.' Kirubananthan is charged with dangerous driving causing death in the Aug. 3 head-on collision on Highway 48 north of Toronto that killed Cristillo, who was heading home from a family gathering with his wife and three kids. Andrew Cristillo Andrew Cristillo is shown with his wife and three daughters in this picture provided by family. Cristillo was killed in a head-on collision on Aug. 3. Cristillo's wife, Christina, pushed out the windshield with her feet to get the three kids, 7-year-old Leah, 6-year-old Chloe, and 4-year-old Ella, out of the car, her family said. They're recovering in hospital from what the family describes as 'life-altering injuries.' 'Long overdue': premier The family's petition appears to have found support in Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who was riding in a vehicle that was hit allegedly by Kirubananthan in an earlier incident. Ford appeared to give his blessings after CTV News asked Thursday about mandatory restrictions pending trial for those receiving a dangerous driving charge. Premier Doug Ford Premier Doug Ford listens to reporters during a news conference. 'Absolutely. I think it's long overdue. So we'll look at it,' he said. 'They're racing from point A to point B. It's just terrible. They need to have their licenses taken away.' Ford also described the January crash from his perspective, saying the other driver was driving over 200 km/h and swooped across three lanes of traffic, saying he was 'lucky, quite literally, by inches.' The premier said he had been in touch with Cristillo's family and said he had to stop himself before saying more to avoid affecting the ongoing legal proceedings. 'Just frustrating, heartbreaking, and I just give condolences and our prayers go out to the family, and I know the people of Ontario will support him any way we can,' he said. Hwy. 401 crash An OPP vehicle, in which Premier Doug Ford was travelling, became involved in a collision on Highway 401 in Pickering on Jan. 8, 2024. (MTO) Back in January, Kirubananthan was also charged with stunt driving under the Highway Traffic Act and later dangerous driving for hitting an OPP cruiser carrying Premier Doug Ford on Highway 401. The stunt driving charge carried with it a 30-day driving ban, but Kirubananthan regained the legal ability to drive in part because he was issued a summons for the dangerous driving charge instead of being put through a bail hearing where a judge can order driving restrictions. Family wants mandatory driving bans The Cristillo petition is calling for those driving bans to be mandatory after a dangerous driving charge, saying that could have prevented Cristillo's death. 'This was not an unavoidable accident; it was the direct result of a system that repeatedly allows dangerous drivers another chance,' the petition says. The petition also calls for 'life sentences or charges equivalent to murder when dangerous driving results in the loss of life' and 'lifetime bans for extreme dangerous driving.' Criminal lawyer Monte MacGregor, who has been following the case, said the proposal for mandatory bans is similar to what is issued at the side of the road for stunt driving and drunk driving cases. 'To me, it's a reasonable measure that affords us the security of knowing, okay, you're allowed out of jail, but we're trying to protect society from any further offences,' MacGregor said. Barry Fox, Kirubananthan's lawyer, told reporters outside the Oshawa courthouse that his client's family, who attended the hearing, was 'very concerned' about what happened. Bail decision postponed At the time of the Aug. 3 crash, the OPP said Kirubananthan was arrested after fleeing the scene. A decision was expected Friday on whether to release him on bail, and after some legal arguments, that decision was postponed until August 25. Bail hearing This court sketch shows the bail hearing for 18-year-old Jaiwin Kirubananthan. The arguments and evidence in the bail hearing are covered by a publication ban and can't be reported. Kirubananthan is considered innocent unless proven guilty on both sets of charges. Cristillo's family is also reeling because his wife, Christina, has been battling late-stage breast cancer and must now contend with raising three young children without her husband. An online fundraiser has received more than $455,000 in donations as of Friday afternoon, and the petition has received over 1,000 signatures, according to its host,
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Dangerous driver sentenced after crashing into garden wall
A dangerous driver has been sentenced after crashing into a garden wall in Swindon. Reuben Brown, 29, of no fixed abode, has been disqualified from driving for 17 months and must pass an extended test. On August 1, at around 4.15am, officers were alerted to a vehicle coming into the county on the M4 eastbound potentially being driven illegally. The black Seat Arona driven by Brown, was spotted at junction 16, where he exited the motorway and travelled up the A3102 towards Blagrove. A pre-emptive stop was conducted and two officers approached the vehicle on foot, at which point Brown mounted the pavement to escape, narrowly avoiding one of the officers. A tactical pursuit was authorised, and Brown was followed towards Old Town, reaching speeds of up to 90mph, travelling the wrong way around roundabouts and travelling the wrong way down Wood Street. Read more A-Level results day 2025: Swindon pupils celebrate successPassenger's terror as bus 'loses brakes and steering' in motorway crashSex Pistols John Lydon to take to Swindon stage later this year He was pursued onto Marlborough Road, where Brown attempted to turn onto Downs View Road. He misjudged the corner and collided with a garden wall. Brown then decamped and a short foot pursuit took place. He was subsequently detained, arrested and charged with dangerous driving and driving without insurance. Brown, who was also wanted on recall to prison, appeared the following day in court and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment in a hearing at Swindon Magistrates' Court. Roads Policing officer PS Benson said: 'Brown's driving was incredibly dangerous and put his own life, the life of our officers and members of the public in danger. 'Following his arrest, he was very swiftly processed through the courts system and sentenced the following day. 'I'm pleased he has been jailed and I hope this case demonstrates that there is no place for this kind of driving in Wiltshire.' According to the Crown Prosecution Service. The service's definition reads: 'The offence of dangerous driving under section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is committed when the defendant's driving falls far below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver and it would be obvious that driving in that way would be dangerous – section 2A of the RTA 1988.'
