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Man jailed and footage released of horror crash which killed Nottingham private hire driver
Footage of the moment a family’s lives were ‘changed forever’ by a fatal collision has been released in a bid to warn motorists of the devastation drug-driving can cause.
Aiden King-Eeson, of Hasley Road in Birmingham, had been partying for fours overnight, fuelled by cocaine, before going on a driving rampage and colliding head-on and killing a private hire driver – who had been on his way home to celebrate his son’s birthday.
King-Eeson drove at more than double the speed limit, ignored red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road before the tragic head-on collision.
The 25-year-old had travelled to Hucknall for a house party on 3 July and at around 9am the following morning, he took a BMW car without permission and drove it into the city where he was captured on a speed camera travelling on Nuthall Road in Aspley at 61mph in a 30 zone.
He then went on to Valley Road at 53mph (40 zone) before driving through Sherwood, where he ignored a red traffic light.
He continued along Mansfield Road and had a minor collision with a lorry near to the Goose Fair roundabout before driving through two more red traffic lights along Gregory Boulevard.
King-Eeson then drove to overtake a car in front of him near the junction with Birkin Avenue and was driving on the wrong side of the road at around 74mph in a 30 zone when he collided head-on with Gurdip Singh Matharu's private hire car when he was on the way home to celebrate his son's birthday. Tragically the 54-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
King-Eeson was arrested instantly after officers on patrol sighted the car speeding past Djanology College.
He was tested for drink and drugs and was found to have cocaine in his system but below the legal driving limit.
He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance and a licence.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday (Friday 25 September). He was also banned from driving for three years once released from custody with extended retest requirement. King-Eeson, originally from Zimbabwe, also faces possible deportation at the end of his sentence.
Mr Matharu's family have been left devastated by their loss and his daughter Sandeep Marathu issued a statement, saying: "The 4th July 2020 should have been a day of celebration for my family, it was my brother’s birthday and my nephew had turned six months old. Instead our lives were changed forever as my dad was killed in this collision.
"He was a loving husband, a father to me and my brothers and a doting, playful grandad and adored by his family.
"Since arriving in the UK in 1996, dad worked hard to provide his family with a better life, making many personal sacrifices to ensure his family did not miss out.
"At the time of the crash my dad was on his way home from work but he never made it. He fell victim to King-Eeson, whose selfish and reckless actions gave dad no chance of survival.
"Dad died on the side of the street, with no family with him, which is something that haunt us all forever. We lost the pillar of our family that day."
Detective Sergeant Adam Cooper said: "King-Eeson's actions go beyond words. He used a car as a weapon that day, carelessly driving into anything that came in his way, recklessly ignoring speed limits and having no regard for others safety.
“It is my belief that he had been up all night having taken cocaine most of which had left his system by the time he was tested.
"He was relentless in his driving rampage, only stopping when he had taken the life of an innocent man who just so happened to be another object in his way.
"Mr Marathu's family remain distraught and although the sentencing today is of little comfort to their loss, we recognise that King-Eason has now been held to account this despicable act.
"I hope that this tragic incident sends the strong message out of the devastation caused by those who choose to drug or drink-drive and those who act so selfishly and recklessly on our roads.
"Thankfully incidents like this are rare in Nottinghamshire and we will remain vigilant against them."
