A woman who caused the death of a 61-year-old man in Wistaston by dangerous driving has been jailed for 50 months.
Oghenevwaire Shittu, 39, of Ruskin Road, Crewe, appeared at Chester Crown Court today (Sept 4) after previously pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Shittu was driving a green BMW along Nantwich Road, Wistaston, when she collided with Stephen Rae from Crewe, at around 10.10am on Friday February 9.
Stephen had been crossing the road and was waiting at a central refuge island clearly marked with two fluorescent bollards.
The BMW was seen on CCTV travelling towards Crewe when it made a noticeable movement from its position in the road towards the central island.
It continued to drive onto the island and hit Stephen.
CCTV footage did not show any evidence of the BMW’s brake lights being activated.
Members of the public rushed to Stephen’s aid. He suffered multiple injuries and was later pronounced dead at hospital.
Shittu was arrested at the scene. She passed drug and alcohol screening, as well as a roadside fitness procedure.
In interview, she gave no defence as to how the collision occurred.
She said she was familiar with the road and there were no distractions inside or outside the vehicle.
She was found to have been driving without a valid licence, having only held a UK provisional licence since 2022, and was also driving without any insurance.
On top of her custodial sentence, Shittu will be disqualified from driving for five years and must then take an extended driving test.
Following the sentencing, the family of Stephen Rae said: “Stephen was a much-loved son and nephew.
“We are relieved to be at the end of this lengthy process. But despite someone being held accountable for Stephen’s death, no sentence is ever going to bring Stephen back to us.”
Sgt Andrew Dennison added: “When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you need to be aware that driving is a privilege, not a right, and nothing justifies not paying full attention to the road.
“While Shittu is now behind bars for this offence, nothing is going to bring Stephen back, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this time.
“This collision could easily have been avoided, so if any good can come from this tragic event, I hope it reminds people of the sudden devastating consequences of not paying attention when driving.”
This is murder under a different name, ridiculously lenient sentence for the taking of someones life and the anguish that will last a lifetime.
It’s odds-on that a mobile phone has played a part in this awful tragedy.
“I was just looking to see who was calling…” – get a hands-free kit or switch it off.
“…she gave no defence as to how the collision occurred” speaks volumes. I’m sure she knows exactly what happened.
The report gives information that tells me the sentence needs reviewing and being increased. CCTV must have been a confirmation of this.
dreadful, the poor guys family must be suffering yet again, it seems a really lenient sentence really, no license or insurance, a life lost forever that is dreadful, a car needs a fit person to drive it, clearly this person was not morally fit