A taxi driver has been sentenced to six years in prison for causing the death of a man by dangerous driving after falling into a microsleep. Kolawole Erunkulu, 45, veered off the A23 in Merstham, Surrey, on August 17, 2025, striking and killing Philip Dray.
Dashcam footage showed Erunkulu nodding off at the wheel. Surrey Police described the incident as a "microsleep," a brief period where the brain is not processing information. Erunkulu had been driving for 12 hours straight and had not taken adequate rest in nearly three days. He was driving commercially at the time of the incident.
Dray, 59, was standing in a lay-by and was about to get back into his Volkswagen after a break when he was hit. He died at the scene.
Erunkulu, who holds joint British and Nigerian nationality, was charged in March 2026 and pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Guildford Crown Court in June. He received his six-year sentence last week. Had he been convicted after a trial, the sentence would have been nine years. He has also been disqualified from driving for eight years, with an extended retest required if he reapplies for his license.
Her Honour Judge Lees stated during sentencing that the footage showed Erunkulu was "extremely tired" and continued to drive despite likely knowing his condition. She added that the situation could have been prevented if he had rested.
Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin highlighted the dangers of driving while fatigued, noting that Erunkulu had accumulated a "sleep debt" from working long hours with insufficient rest. He emphasized that fatigue significantly impairs a driver's ability to stay alert and react safely, especially during early morning hours when the urge to sleep is strongest.
Philip Dray's family described him as a "dependable and steady" individual who cared deeply about others and treated everyone with respect. His sister noted that he was a careful and conscientious driver himself, making his death in such circumstances "incomprehensible and tragic." His partner remembered him as a "sweet, gentle, and caring man" and their "soulmate."
Police data revealed Erunkulu had driven approximately 53 hours over the three days preceding the collision. His longest rest period within that time was seven hours, three days prior. Other breaks were around four hours and two hours. In the 12 hours immediately before the crash, he had taken only minor breaks.
To underscore the risks of driving while fatigued, Dray's family has consented to the release of the dashcam footage showing Erunkulu falling asleep at the wheel.