Final driver charged after Hartlepool collision killed East Durham grandmother is sentenced at Teesside Crown Court
and live on Freeview channel 276
Syed Hassan followed Kieran Clement, 21, and Keaton Cox, 22, in driving at up to 111 miles per hour shortly before Audi driver Clement caused a crash on the A689 between Newton Bewley and Hartlepool.
Clement collided with a Nissan carrying 75-year-old Margaret Murray, a grandmother from Easington, who died at the scene in March 2021.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTeesside Crown Court earlier heard how Mrs Murray and her husband were on their way to the beach to celebrate the end of lockdown.
Hassan, 26, driving a grey VW Golf, was the last of the three cars recorded by a lorry’s dashcam shortly before the collision.
Prosecutor Ian West said Hassan was not responsible for the crash but said investigators calculated his speed at just under 112mph.
Hassan, of Blackhills Road, Horden, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdChristopher Knox, defending, said in mitigation that the bad driving had already started when Hassan got involved for a comparatively short length of time.
He was sentenced to nine months’ prison, which was suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Hassan was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and must take an extended retest.
Last month Clement, of Winterburn Place, Newton Aycliffe, was jailed for two years and six months and banned for three and three months for causing death by dangerous driving.
Cox, of Bolckow Street, Eston, received 14 months youth detention, which was suspended for 18 months, unpaid work and a two-year ban for dangerous driving.