A driver and his co-passenger inhaled nitrous oxide while driving at 139 mph in a 30 mph zone in a Volkswagen Golf GTI, and crashed into another car, killing one person.
Footage of the incident shows the Golf catching fire after the incident, as both occupants fled the scene without helping the victim.
Incidents like these are a reminder of what speeding can do- destroy property, claim innocent lives, and leave families shattered.
Police arrested the driver and the passenger, and both have reportedly attracted the most severe punishment for a death by dangerous driving offence.
A Nitrous Oxide Trip Takes the Two Men to Jail
According to a report by The Guardian, Uways Hussain, 20, and Usmon Mahmood, 23, inhaled nitrous oxide while traveling at over 139 mph in a zone that was restricted to only 30 mph. Footage reveals their Golf striking 50-year-old Sylvester Abayomi’s car like a bullet.
Both allegedly filmed themselves inhaling the gas from a balloon. Hussain was reportedly driving the Golf, running through red lights and dangerously weaving through traffic before crashing into Abayomi’s car at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway, at 4:30 am on 9 March.
The footage was reported to have been played in court. Denise Doyle, Abayomi’s partner, addressed the defendants in court, holding them responsible for his death. She said:
“Sylvester was simply on his way to work. An ordinary hard-working man.
“He should have returned home to me safely that day. Because of your actions, he never did.”
She added:
“You left Sylv to die alone. You did not show him even a shred of compassion or humanity.”
Hussain was sentenced to “11 years and eight months’ detention after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while uninsured, and failing to provide a specimen.”
On the other hand, his passenger, Mahmood, told the police that he tried warning Hussain about the dangerous driving. However, it appears that he encouraged his friend to drive that way at first.
He has been sentenced to imprisonment for “12 years and nine months after he admitted aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and aiding and abetting causing death by driving while uninsured.”
The Accused Showed No Sympathy
Both Hussain and Mahmood were heard talking about reporting the car stolen after the incident, and even planned to call an Uber and leave the spot.
It was said in the court that Hussain’s Apple Watch sensed a collision and immediately called 999 automatically following the incident.
Rachel Shenton, prosecuting, said both men escaped after the incident and ran away from officers when they were being located. Eventually, they ended up getting arrested.
Shenton stated that Mahmood was heard encouraging Hussain from the passenger seat before the incident occurred. She said:
“The Golf was driven by the first defendant, Uways Hussain.
“His friend Usmon Mahmood, the front seat passenger, was heard at times earlier on to be shouting encouragement.”
Neil Ronan, who was defending Hussain, said he was a law student who worked full-time at an airport.
On the other hand, Clare Ashcroft, defending Mahmood, said he was about to start an apprenticeship with Network Rail. She said:
“He is starting to understand the impact of his behaviour. In my submission he is remorseful.”
Judge Slams the Accused, Describes the Evidence as Terrifying
Judge Dean KC said he had reviewed all the footage and addressed Hussain and Mahmood:
“I have seen CCTV images and video recordings on phones and they are terrifying.
“You drove at extreme speeds, seemingly up to very nearly 140mph, on roads which were by and large subject to 30mph speed limits, far, far in excess of any safe or lawful limit.”
After listening to the transcript of the call where both were heard talking about fleeing the accident spot in an Uber, Dean said:
“It doesn’t reveal shock or concern for the victim.”
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