Harinderpal Athwal, a 41-year-old Uber Eats driver, has been jailed for over 11 years after a devastating collision on Soho Road in Birmingham that killed a father and left his wife with life-changing injuries. The crash was so severe that some CCTV footage was deemed too graphic to be shown in court.
On Tuesday, December 16, last year, Athwal fell asleep at the wheel of his Vauxhall Corsa. He drifted onto the pavement, striking Bandana Verma and her husband Jatinder Verma, who were walking together. After the initial impact, Athwal reversed his vehicle, running over Mr. Verma again and dragging him along the road before fleeing the scene.
Mr. Verma, 54, suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Mrs. Verma sustained a bleed on the brain, multiple broken bones, and remains in a wheelchair five months later. The couple’s children have had to take on adult responsibilities while grieving their father.
Athwal, of Sorrel Close, Oldbury, had been banned from driving just six days before the crash but was still behind the wheel delivering for Uber Eats. His driving record included two drink-driving offences and a failure to provide a specimen. Judge Simon Drew KC considered a lifetime driving ban but instead imposed a 20-year disqualification after his release.
The court heard that Athwal initially claimed he had blacked out, but he later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and failing to stop or report the accident. He was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison.
In a victim impact statement, Mrs. Verma expressed her anger and grief, saying, "I cry every day for my husband. He was my emotional support and strength." Judge Drew told Athwal, "You drove away, abandoning them in the street. All of your thoughts were solely focused on yourself. Now is the day of reckoning."
