UK court sentences fatigued Nigerian driver to six years for fatal crash

A UK court has sentenced Nigerian taxi driver Kolawole Erunkulu, 45, to six years in prison for falling asleep at the wheel and causing a fatal crash, according to a Peoples Gazette report, citing Surrey Police.

Erunkulu had driven roughly 53 hours over three days before the collision on the A23 in Merstham on August 17, 2025, killing 59-year-old Philip Dray, who was struck while re-entering his parked car.

Erunkulu, sentenced at Guildford Crown Court, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Judge Lees said he “must have known” he was too tired to drive.