Two men have been jailed after a fatal crash captured on video showed them inhaling from balloons and driving at speeds of up to 139mph. Uways Hussain, 20, was driving a VW Golf GTI belonging to passenger Usmon Mahmood, 23, in the early hours of March 9 this year when they ran a red light and collided with a Volvo S40 driven by Sylvester Abayomi, 50, at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway in Burnage, Manchester.
Mr. Abayomi, who was on his way to work, suffered catastrophic chest injuries and died in hospital later that morning. Manchester Crown Court was shown footage of the crash, which occurred at 4:30 am.
Footage Shows Reckless Behavior
In video taken by both Hussain and Mahmood, the pair were seen sucking on balloons in the car. They reached speeds of up to 139mph, drove on the wrong side of the road, and Hussain filmed himself driving with one hand. After the crash, Hussain's Apple Watch automatically called 999 upon detecting the collision. Unaware of the call, the pair were recorded discussing how to report the car as stolen, arguing about who would claim to be the driver, and discussing how to remove DNA. They also ordered an Uber.
Hussain was heard saying his father would 'kill him'. Sentencing judge Nicholas Dean KC described the transcript as 'chilling', noting it showed no shock or concern for the victim. Officers tracked the men using the watch and found Hussain hiding in a garden on Sunnylea Avenue, where he asked, 'None of us were even there, what's happened, did somebody pass away?' Mahmood was caught in a different garden on the same street, both surrounded by nitrous oxide canisters taken from the car.
Court Hears Impact on Victim's Family
Denise Doyle, Mr. Abayomi's partner, read a statement in court: 'Sylvester was simply on his way to work. He was an ordinary hard working man. He should have returned home to me that day, but 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's barrister, Neil Ronan, said Hussain had a previous conviction for drug driving and was a law student working full-time at an airport. He described the driving as a 'single reckless decision', but Judge Dean rejected this, stating: 'This wasn't a single reckless decision. He drives under the influence of nitrous oxide in an utterly shocking way and an entirely deliberate way.'
Sentences Handed Down
Hussain was jailed for 11 years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while uninsured, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, failing to provide a specimen, and driving without insurance. Mahmood received 12 years and nine months for aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving, aiding and abetting causing death by driving while uninsured, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Both were banned from driving for five years, extended by eight years.
Detective Sergeant Thomas Johnson from GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: 'This is one of the most extreme cases of dangerous driving we have encountered, and it has tragically resulted in the loss of Sylvester’s life. No sentence can ever truly compensate for the loss of a life, but the actions of Hussain and Mahmood show a complete disregard for the safety of others.'
