A van driver has been sentenced to eight years in jail for causing the death of a student at King’s College London in a tragic incident in London. The driver, Christopher Jackson, crashed into an iron gate, hitting two people and then fatally striking Aalia Mahomed, a 20-year-old student. Two others were injured in the incident.
Jackson, 27, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The collision occurred on the Strand in London on March 18 last year. Aalia Mahomed, who was studying physics and philosophy, was described as an amazing daughter by her mother in court.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Jackson was tasked with collecting electric vehicles when the incident took place. After leaving a courtyard, he sped towards iron gates leading to a pedestrian zone, causing the fatal crash. It was revealed that Jackson had never driven an electric vehicle before and mistakenly accelerated instead of braking, leading to the tragic event.
The court heard emotional statements from Aalia Mahomed’s family members, expressing their deep grief and loss. The judge acknowledged Jackson’s remorse and sentenced him to eight years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving and three years for causing serious injuries, to be served concurrently. Jackson was also disqualified from driving for five years and required to pass a retest.
The Crown Prosecution Service emphasized the devastating impact of the crash on the victims and their families and hoped that the sentence would bring some closure. Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith expressed condolences to the victims’ families and highlighted the ongoing consequences of dangerous driving.