Tragic Crash Claims Life of Keele University Student
A 23-year-old drink-driver has been jailed for eight years after killing his friend in a high-speed crash where he attempted to reach 90mph in a 30mph zone.
Sharuyan Sasikumar was behind the wheel of his Toyota Icon on High Street, Knutton, in September 2024 when he lost control, mounted the pavement, and slammed into a lamppost and railings.
The Fatal Journey
The court heard that Sasikumar, along with his passengers Shejuti Pasha, 32, and her partner, were returning from a trip to a viewpoint after an evening spent watching television and drinking whisky at their home in Orme Road, Newcastle.
Prosecutor Tom Kenning stated that while the outbound journey was uneventful, the return trip turned deadly. The car's lights reportedly cut out momentarily before coming back on, and Sasikumar began driving at excessive speed.
Witnesses described the engine revving so loudly it sounded "like an aeroplane," and one resident reported hearing Sasikumar say he was told to drive at 90mph.
Catastrophic Consequences
The vehicle, travelling at an estimated 82mph, mounted the kerb and crashed. The metal railings were thrust through the car, fatally injuring Shejuti Pasha, who was seated in the rear.
Miss Pasha, a master's degree student at Keele University, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
When questioned at the scene, Sasikumar claimed he had only consumed "one shot of Jameson's whisky." However, subsequent tests revealed he had 59 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, significantly over the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Sentencing and Remorse
At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Richard McConaghy condemned Sasikumar's "highly dangerous manner" of driving, stating it was a "deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road."
Defence barrister Stuart Muldoon conceded his client's driving was impaired and the speed was inappropriate. He described Sasikumar, a teaching assistant for people with special educational needs, as genuinely remorseful.
As well as the eight-year prison sentence, Sasikumar, now of Rothwell Road, Dagenham, Essex, was banned from driving for 11 years and four months.
