Driver Sentenced for Fatal Collision During Birthday Celebration
A driver has been jailed and another received a suspended sentence following a crash that killed a woman celebrating her 60th birthday in Leicester.
Thomas Goulty has been sentenced to prison for his role in a fatal collision that occurred while Donna Brighton was celebrating her 60th birthday. Goulty was driving at excessive speed and under the influence of alcohol when his vehicle collided with a taxi carrying Brighton and two other passengers.
The court heard that Goulty was traveling at 64 mph in a 30 mph residential zone before crashing into a Peugeot Expert Tepee taxi. The taxi driver, Sarwar Mohammad, who also admitted to offenses, was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
Brighton had been out with friends for her birthday celebration. She shared a taxi with the Sidsaffs, who were in Leicester for the Radio 2 in the Park music festival, as they were traveling in the same direction. Prosecutor Steven Bailey stated that the collision was a result of the "combined bad driving of Thomas Goulty and Sarwar Mohammad" as the taxi executed a right turn across a dual carriageway.
Minutes before the crash, Goulty had sent a message indicating he had consumed alcohol. While he tested positive for alcohol at the scene, subsequent assessments could not confirm if he was over the legal driving limit. Bailey noted Goulty’s speed was excessive, estimated at 55 mph at the point of impact, leaving him insufficient time to brake.
Mohammad was reportedly driving at 25 mph in the 30 mph zone before slowing to 8 mph to make the turn. However, the court heard that he "did not come to a stop fully" and did not maximize his chances of avoiding the collision. Brighton was ejected from the taxi through an open window and sustained fatal head and chest injuries. The other two passengers suffered serious injuries, including multiple fractures.
Representatives for both defendants expressed remorse to the court. Recorder Jacob Hallam KC, in sentencing, stated, "You took Donna Brighton's life, and the people who loved her are still paying the price of that today, and you caused the Sidsaffs, as I have said, terrible injuries."
Goulty has been disqualified from driving for five years and must pass an extended retest. Mohammad received a two-year disqualification but will not require an extended retest.