Student drove BMW over crossroads into Car with Child inside

Student Raihan Hossain, aged 22, of Keighley, Bradford, received a suspended prison sentence after he drove straight over a crossroads into the path of another car.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Hossain was going to fast in his father’s BMW 3-Series when he failed to spot the Give Way sign and white lines across the road on November 2, 2017.

He crashed into a Honda with a mother and young child in it and span into a parked vehicle injuring his friend Sohail Khan, who was in the rear seat.

Prosecutor David McGonigal explained that Hossain’s car hit the front of the Honda driven by Sarah McLellan whose ten-month-old child was in the car.

People who saw Hossain driving down Marsh Lane shortly before the collision said he was going up to 60mph in a 30mph zone.

One person saw the BMW’s suspension “bottoming out” because of the speed.

The front of Miss McLellan’s car was badly damaged. Her child was checked over in hospital but both mother and baby were unharmed.

Mr Khan sustained fractures to his vertebra after the BMW ended up right over the junction on Lee Lane.

Hossain blamed Miss McLellan at the scene. He claimed he was “creeping out” of the junction when she collided with his car.

Mr Khan spent a week in the hospital then needed a spinal brace.

In January 2018, he was reported to be healing well and Hossain had since kicked a football about with him.

Mr McGonigal said Miss McLellan was now a more nervous driver.

The student pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving at the junction of Marsh Lane and Moorside Lane.

Hossain’s barrister, Ian Howard, said his client did charity work and was of previous good character.

It was “a tragic accident” that had put his career on hold.

Mr Howard stated that Hossain was very remorseful and had not driven since the crash.

He said: “The consequences were severe but nothing he did was deliberate.”

Judge Robert Bartfield said Hossain ignored the Give Way sign and the white lines across the road.

He said: “You ignored the lot and ploughed on at 60mph.”

Judge Bartfield went on to say that he could have killed Miss McLellan and her child.

He added:

“A split second either way and they both could have been consigned to the next world.”

But he took into consideration Hossain’s genuine remorse and the fact that he had injured his friend.

He also took into account that the student was unaware that it was a 30mph limit, he was not racing and he never tried to leave the scene.

He told Hossain: “This is your first ever offence and I am confident it will be the last one.”

Raihan Hossain was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years on June 10, 2019, with 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from driving for two years and must take an extended retest before he drives again.