Malayalee student driver jailed after his car hits elderly man and kills him at Zebra crossing

LONDON APRIL 30: A speeding Malayalee student driver in the UK, who hit a pedestrian on a zebra crossing just hours after passing his driving test has been jailed after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Sharon Abraham, 27, was driving at an estimated 52mph (83.6kmh) when his Lexus car struck Andrew Forrest, 75, as he crossed Upperton Road, in Eastbourne, on 26 July 2023.

Police said Sharon Abraham, from Compton Road, Eastbourne, fled the scene and later bought a cover for his car to hide the damage to his vehicle. He was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from driving for eight years at Lewes Crown Court.

The sentence would have been nine years in prison had the case gone to trial, but it was reduced because of Abraham’s early guilty plea. Sharon Abraham will also have to take an extended re-test before he can drive again.

Sharon Abraham, a student, held an overseas driving licence for nine years but was required to take a UK test. His car hit Mr Forrest, a former head of history at Woking College, at about 19:45 BST on the day he passed the driving test.

Police said Sharon Abraham had searched “hit and run collision UK law” on his mobile phone before deleting the history.

At Lewes Crown Court on April 25, Sharon Abraham appeared for sentencing after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

The court was told how the incident happened in Upperton Road, Eastbourne, at 7.45pm on July 26 last year.

It was raining, and was one hour before sunset.

Sharon Abraham, who was also carrying passengers in his vehicle, left the scene and did not report the accident.

The next morning he went to a shop to buy a cover for his vehicle which he had parked at the rear of his property.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit and Roads Policing Unit gathered evidence including CCTV evidence which showed the incident.

Sharon Abraham was traced and arrested 16 hours after the collision.

At interview he claimed he had not been speeding, and claimed he was sure the collision was not his fault.

Another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction had correctly stopped at the zebra crossing to allow Mr Forrest to cross.

Sharon Abraham also claimed he intended to hand himself in to the police.

His phone was seized, and it showed he had searched for “hit and run collision UK law” before deleting the history.

A collision report showed he was speeding, with estimates suggesting he was travelling at between 45mph and 52mph in a 30mph zone.

Had Sharon Abraham been travelling at the speed limit, the collision would not have happened.

Delivering the sentence, Her Honour Judge Christine Laing KC, said: “You were driving at a speed which was highly inappropriate for the prevailing road and weather conditions.

“Secondly, you drove with a lack of attention for a substantial period of time and it was only in the last second or two that you braked.

“This case is aggravated by the fact that you only stopped momentarily before driving off. It must have been obvious at the very least there must have been terrible injuries, but your thoughts were of yourself and your car.”

Detective Inspector Kani Barawi, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was a complex case which involved a large number of police officers and staff who worked tirelessly to identify the vehicle and driver involved.

“This was followed up by my team of detectives and investigators who conducted a thorough investigation and established exactly what happened that day.

“This outcome is an example of hard work, determination, and good investigation to ensure that justice is served. No matter how someone may try and evade responsibility for their actions, we will find you, and you will face the consequences.

“Our thoughts are with Andrew’s family, who have acted with the utmost dignity throughout this ordeal.”

Speaking after the case, Mr Forrest’s family said: “Andy (Andrew) was a much loved family member and it is hard to overstate the affect his sudden death has had on us all. Our children and their children loved Andy and he loved them.

“He was also very well known in the Eastbourne community through his art exhibitions and his involvement with the Towner gallery and was an active member of several societies.

“Nothing will bring him back. He could not say goodbye to those he loved. He was taken far too soon from our lives and we all miss him greatly.

“We are grateful to the witnesses who stopped and were with Andy in the moments after the collision and take comfort in knowing he wasn’t alone.”