"the car would collide with the wall of the roundabout."
Nasrin Saleh, aged 26, of Liverpool, was jailed for four and a half years after she crashed into a wall, causing the death of her passenger, while high on ‘hippy crack’.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the incident happened at around 4:45 am on October 10, 2021, on East Prescot Road near Alder Hey children’s hospital.
A friend, who had earlier been in the car, said Saleh was “having loads” of canisters, approximately two to three boxes which each contained 15 canisters.
‘Hippy crack’ is the street name for nitrous oxide (laughing gas). It is one of the most recent drugs to be ruled illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act.
Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, told the court that the road has a 40mph speed limit.
CCTV footage from a house 470 metres away from the roundabout showed the VW Golf GTI was travelling at 103mph.
Saleh, who was in a “euphoric” state, struck a brick wall surrounding the roundabout, flipped over and burst into flames.
Taxi driver Russell Cooper and another man managed to pull Saleh out.
Saleh admitted to the rescuers that she and Luqman Mehboob had been “doing balloons” and taking turns driving the car.
The car had been borrowed from a cousin of Mr Mehboob. Both were uninsured to drive it.
Mr Cooper returned to the vehicle and managed to reach the front seat passenger but he was unresponsive and the intensity of the fire forced Mr Cooper to retreat.
Saleh suffered a fracture to her lower left leg and ankle and was taken to hospital.
Mr Mehboob died as a result of his injuries. A post-mortem examination revealed that she suffered catastrophic head and internal injuries resulting in immediate loss of consciousness and ultimately death.
Earlier in the evening, Saleh and two friends had gone out eating and drinking in the Rusholme area of Manchester before returning to Liverpool.
Saleh pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Judge David Aubrey KC told the single mother that she had been driving “a powerful vehicle that you were unfamiliar with at grossly excessive speeds”.
He said: “It was inevitable that driving at those speeds, even with braking, that the car would collide with the wall of the roundabout.”
The judge stated that nitrous oxide can cause euphoria, confusion, disorientation, loss of coordination and even hallucinations.
In an impact statement from the victim’s mother Fahmida Kauser, she said:
“His presence brought many smiles and his words were always listened to.”
Judge Aubrey said:
“He had his whole life in front of him and with many a dream as to his future.”
He told Saleh: “He was a charming, caring young man and so many lives including his family, your family and you will never be the same.
“There remains emptiness, a massive hole in his family’s hearts.”
Defence barrister Fusad Arshad said that Saleh, who has no previous convictions, is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the tragedy, adding:
“There is real sorrow and remorse and there is a sincere feeling of guilt.”
Saleh was jailed for four and a half years. She was also banned from driving for six years and three months.
Judge Aubrey praised taxi driver Mr Cooper for his bravery and he awarded him a High Sheriff’s award of £250.
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