Humaira Batool has been jailed for 10 years for causing the death of Mohammed Shaan Hussain after losing control of a rented Lamborghini on the M62 in West Yorkshire in December 2022. The 20-year-old died after the car hit a motorway barrier, overturned and caught fire.
Jurors heard that Batool, 26, from Bradford, had driven at speeds of up to 140mph in wet conditions shortly before the crash. The court was told Hussain had rented the car and was travelling with Batool to HMP Leeds to collect a friend. They changed places during the journey, and the Lamborghini left the carriageway within eight seconds of Batool taking the wheel.
Judge Ray Singh said Hussain’s death resulted from Batool’s decision to drive at extreme speed on a damp motorway in darkness. He said the driving was not a brief lapse in concentration, but a conscious choice that exposed the passenger, Batool and other road users to a serious risk.
Batool argued during the trial that Hussain had reached over and touched something in the car, causing it to accelerate. The jury rejected that account, along with explanations involving mechanical failure, aquaplaning and possible interference with the vehicle’s controls. The judge said the collision was caused by Batool’s driving.
Hussain died from his injuries. Batool suffered serious injuries, including burns to around 10% of her body and a shattered tibia. She was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in September.
Batool was sentenced to 10 years in prison and disqualified from driving for the same period. She must also pass an extended driving test before driving again.
Hussain’s mother, Nasreen Akhtar, described him in a statement to the court as a beloved son, cherished brother and loyal friend, and said the family struggled every day. His brother, Mohammed Souhail Hussain, said Shaan would always be their older brother.
Sources: BBC News UK.