Driver hit 50mph before killing Wolverhampton student in Broad Street crash
The driver who knocked down and killed Joseph O'Reilly reached speeds of up to 50mph on Birmingham's Broad Street, a court was told.
Fahid Saber's Volkswagen Polo hit the 22-year-old University of Wolverhampton student as he tried to hail a taxi following a night out in the city centre.
Witnesses said Mr O'Reilly the 22-year-old, who lived at the Walsall campus, was thrown '15ft in the air'.
Saber was today starting a five-year jail term after admitting death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving in the crash that killed Mr O'Reilly on December 15.
Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, told Birmingham Crown Court yesterday: "Joseph had met his friend for a drink before he was due to go home to Ireland for Christmas.
"As they were trying to find an the address some taxi drivers had run out of patience and left.
"They signalled for a taxi outside of Walkabout bar and as he stepped off the kerb a vehicle driven by the defendant's friend swerved to miss him. However, Fahid Saber collided with him.
"Witnesses say he was driving at 40mph but researchers say it was between 44mph and 50mph.
"The deceased was thrown 15ft into the air and 40 metres forward."
Miss Powis told the court that Saber, aged 22, like Mr O'Reilly, had been drinking in Gatecrasher and had left when it closed.
He had got a lift to his car which was parked outside of the city centre in Kenwood Road and collected it.
He and a friend drove their cars into the city centre and were seen on CCTV driving above the 30 mph speed limit with Saber less than a car length away from his friend's vehicle in front.
Miss Powis added: "After the collision the defendant was heard to say 'What should I do? What should I do?'"
After the crash Saber, of Bromford Lane, Bromford, Birmingham, drove his damaged car back to Kenwood Road to hide the smash from his family. But receiving a call from his father he returned home and was arrested by police.
Miss Powis said: "The defendant told police he had shared a bottle of rose with friends and had drunk a quarter of the bottle."
Despite blowing under the legal limit at the police station experts believed Saber would have been almost twice the drink drive limit when he collided with O'Reilly.
Mr Delroy Henry, defending, said: "It's small consolation to the family of Mr O'Reilly but the defendant wishes his condolences and apologies to be made public."
Judge Simon Drew told Saber: "The responsibility of this traffic accident was entirely yours. As a result a young man has died."
Mr O'Reilly, originally from Ireland, was an avid Aston Villa fan.
