Van driver jailed after killing London student
Van Driver Sentenced to Eight Years for Fatal Crash at London University
A 27-year-old man from Southampton has been sentenced to eight years in prison after a van crash near a London university campus resulted in the death of a 20-year-old student. The incident, which unfolded in The Strand, occurred on 18 March last year, leading to the conviction of Christopher Jackson for causing Aalia Mahomed’s death through dangerous driving.
Incident Overview
The Old Bailey was informed that Aalia Mahomed, a second-year physics and philosophy student at King’s College London, was seated on a bench close to the campus when the van struck gates. The vehicle collided with the gates, launched into the air, and crashed onto the bench where she was sitting. The crash ended near the wall of St Mary-Le-Strand church, with the event lasting approximately six seconds.
Driver’s Background and Cause of Accident
Jackson, who had never driven an electric vehicle before, was tasked with transporting a van from Bush House in Aldwych. Forensic analysis by the Metropolitan Police confirmed no mechanical defects in the van, attributing the crash to “unintended acceleration exacerbated by Jackson’s panic.” The court heard that the driver was pressing the accelerator, mistakenly believing it to be the brake, during the incident.
“When you lose a child, you don’t just lose a presence of someone in your life—you lose a part of yourself. Our beautiful Aalia had her whole life ahead of her, cut short at 20 with no warning and no goodbyes… the loss on the wider family is also immense.” – Samira Shafi, Aalia’s mother
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Before receiving his eight-year sentence, Jackson had already pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which led to life-altering harm for two other King’s College London students. His defense, led by Jessica Clarke, argued the crash was a “tragic accident” with no involvement of excessive speed, alcohol, or drugs. However, Judge Philip Katz KC contested this, emphasizing that a competent driver would verify the vehicle’s safety before driving.
Jackson was given three years for each of the serious injury charges, with the sentences running concurrently. He will serve two-thirds of his time before being released on licence. Additionally, he has been banned from driving and must pass a retest to resume operating a vehicle.
