Teen who killed friend in smash is locked up
A teenage drink driver who reached speeds of 80mph before smashing into a wall and lamp- post, killing his friend, has been locked up for four years.
Ahlack Rahman died after being flung from Asad Ali's Vauxhall Corsa
In the minutes before the deadly smash on Dudley Port Road in Tipton, Ali had been 'showing off' to his passengers by overtaking and accelerating past other road users, a court heard.
But tragedy struck when the vehicle became 'airborne' after hitting the humpback bridge between Groveland Road and Fisher Street.
Ali had been drinking vodka at a party earlier while celebrating his sister's marriage and was slightly over the drink drive limit, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Mr Iain Willis said 18-year-old Ali had been at a gathering in Kates Hill, Dudley, and had left with friends, including Mr Rahman, to get some food in Birmingham.
The convoy of three vehicles then instead decided to head towards Netherton, which is when the defendant started driving 'erratically', said Mr Willis.
Witnesses described how the defendant was hitting speeds of up to 70mph on 40mph roads.
The court heard passengers in Ali's car had told him to slow down, while there were also concerns about Mr Rahman not wearing a seatbelt. Mr Willis added: "The defendant accelerated to 50-60mph on a 30mph road, driving on the opposite side of the road to avoid speed camera detection. He drove at 80mph through two sets of lights.
"CCTV shows an average speed of 63mph between the traffic lights and canal bridge. He did not brake as he approached the bridge."
Mr Willis said the maximum speed a vehicle could go over the bridge without taking off was 49mph. He added: "Passengers said he accelerated and all four wheels left the road at the summit of the canal bridge. The car became airborne and the defendant was unable to control the vehicle. It hit a kerb, then wall and lamppost. The passenger door became wrapped around the post and Ahlack Rahman was thrown from the car."
Ali, now of Chairborough Road, High Wycombe, but formerly of Kates Hill, admitted death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol. Three hours after the crash, he had 87mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg per 100ml.
The crash was at about 12.40am on September 10 last year. Former Castle High School pupil Mr Rahman died from his injuries at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Ali will have to take an extended driving test after his release.
