Doctor Who Killed His Daughter, 9, In Horror Crash Bags 4 Years Jail Term

Doctor Who Killed His Daughter, 9, In Horror Crash Bags 4 Years Jail Term. The doctor who drove at twice the speed limit and ignored a red light moments before a crash which killed his nine-year-old daughter has been jailed. Chizoro Edohasim was convicted last month at Manchester Crown Court of causing death by dangerous driving. He was taking his daughter Olivia to a maths class when he crashed in Altrincham, Greater Manchester in May 2016. She died at the scene and her sister, aged 11, needed surgery. Edohasim was sentenced to four years.

Judge Stuart Driver told Edohasim he performed a “deliberate dangerous manoeuvre” by overtaking when unsafe to do so. He added there were a number of mitigating features but said the offence was so serious only an “immediate prison term was appropriate”.

Simon Russell Flint QC, defending, said his client would “continue to suffer, whatever the sentence imposed by the court, long after that sentence has expired”. He added not a moment had passed since the day of the crash that Edohasim “hasn’t thought of what happened”.

The medical research doctor is likely to be suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC). Earlier in the hearing, driver Nicholas Gee told the court Edohasim, of Huntspill Road, Altrincham, was driving like a “lunatic” as he headed towards him in a “reckless and suicidal” way.

Mr Gee said he had to make an emergency stop to avoid a head-on crash when the medic overtook two cars. Sol Diaz, who was walking along the road, told the jury oncoming cars had to pull on to the pavement to get out of the way.

The court was told Edohasim was driving at 59mph in a 30mph zone when his car went through a red light and hit a wall. Sentencing him at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Stuart Driver QC said:

‘I find your driving to that point amounted to a deliberate dangerous manoeuvre. When you were back in your lane you were driving above the 30mph speed limit and you had red lights ahead of you.

‘You intended to brake but evidence shows that instead of braking, for at least the last six seconds the accelerator was pressed, and for the last four seconds it was pressed to the floor.

‘It was not suggested that was deliberate. I find that you intended to press the brake pedal but pressed the accelerator in error.

‘You reacted to your mistake by pressing the pedal harder and keeping your foot pressed down. Your car shot through the junction and into a wall.

‘Your daughter Olivia, nine, was killed and your daughter Eva, 11, sustained serious injuries for which she needed surgery and spent up to one month in hospital.’

The judge added:

‘There is a grave aggravating feature that you also caused serious injury to your older daughter, which means both sentences will be higher to reflect.

‘There are two powerful factors in mitigation. One is the injuries to yourself, the second is the fact you are a man of exemplary good character.

‘Witnesses have spoken about you in glowing terms. I accept that any conviction will have a significant impact on your career.

‘Finally, and most importantly in mitigation, there is the factor that the deceased was one of your children.

‘I accept that you were a loving father and this will make a significant difference to your sentence.

‘You will carry with you the heavy burden of what you did for the rest of your life.

‘But the offences you committed were so serious only a substantial prison sentence can be imposed.’

In mitigation, Simon Russell Flint QC, said: ‘This case is more than tragic. ‘It was his fault, the jury decided, and for some inexplicable and senseless reason he didn’t press the brake pedal but instead pressed the accelerator.

‘For any father to have to carry this with them is a huge burden. There is no doubt the Dr Edohasim will continue to suffer long after any sentence from the court has expired.’