Death crash drink-driver made 'deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road'

Master’s student suffered fatal injuries when friend crashed car into railings

- Sentinel Reporter

MOTORIST Sharuyan Sasikumar killed his friend as he tried to reach 90mph after drinking whisky.

The 23-year-old had driven two friends to a viewpoint looking across the city of Stoke-on-Trent on the evening of September 25 last year.

His driving was described as fine on the way but on the way back he tried to reach 90mph and lost control when he reached 82mph. His Toyota Icon car mounted the pavement in High Street, Knutton, travelled along a verge, hit a lamppost and crashed into railings at Newcastle Children’s Centre. The railing went through the car and into back seat passenger Shejuti Pasha.

The 32-year-old was taken to hospital but died of her injuries.

The court heard Sasikumar was breathalysed in custody gave a reading of 59 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, against the legal limit of 35. Now he has been jailed for eight years and banned from driving for 11 years and four months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.