Taxi driver caused death of passenger in crash on A15
A TAXI driver caused the death of his passenger when he hit a trailer before ploughing into the central reservation on the A15.
Shekh Husain, 34, of Old Brumby Street, Scunthorpe, is now starting a nine-month prison term for causing the death of Isabella Hopkins through careless or inconsiderate driving.
The crash happened on the A15 near Barton-Upon-Humber on February 25 last year when he struck a trailer attached to a yellow JCB Telehandler tractor while trying to overtake it, before crashing into the barrier of the central reservation. Mrs Hopkins, 58, was in the rear passenger side seat of the vehicle. She died at the scene.
Mr Andrew Espley, prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, said Husain was travelling on the northbound carriageway, taking Mrs Hopkins on a journey to Hessle from Epworth. The court heard he moved his Toyota Prius to avoid the slow-moving tractor and trailer when the crash happened.
But the Ashby Cars & Minibuses taxi stuck the trailer before also hitting the central reservation, causing an explosion of debris.
The trailer was filled with large white bags of fertiliser which were described as clearly visible on the day but a warning light attached to the cab of the slow moving tractor was not functioning at the time of the crash.
Accident investigators found that Husain had decelerated some 34mph before the impact but were unable to provide an actual speed going into the crash estimating his speed at the time of impact to be a minimum of 59mph.
In his summary of the case, Judge Bury said: “The only reasonable explanation for the cause of the accident is gross inattention and excessive speed when approaching the tractor and trailer. It seems clear to me that you were driving at an improper speed although I cannot be sure that you had exceeded the national speed limit.
“By the time you saw the tractor you were going too fast to avoid it.” Mrs Hopkins, who was described in court as a kindhearted and caring person, worked for a local authority to accompany children with learning or behavioural issues to and from school.
Mrs Hopkins regularly used taxis and had previously expressed concerns about the speed of some drivers to her line managers. The court heard that Mrs Hopkins was known to be something of a nervous passenger and also regularly told family when she had concerns about taxis.
She had told her daughter that morning, during a journey also believed to be with Husain, that she saw the digital speedometer reach 84mph.
Mrs Hopkins leaves behind a husband, two children and twin granddaughters born just nine weeks before the crash which tragically took her life.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Hopkins said: “Family was the main focus of Isabella’s life. She was also kindhearted and generous to everyone she met and she will be greatly missed.
“We’re still finding it difficult to get on with our lives today.
“My life is now a quieter and lonely place.”
Husain pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment. He will also be banned from driving for 12 months.