News Desk: Two Indian-origin men have been sentenced to a combined 28 years in prison in the United Kingdom after a high-speed street race led to the deaths of a mother and her four-year-old daughter in northern England. The fatal crash took place in January 2023, when one of the drivers lost control of his car and struck the pair as they were walking to school.
The victims were identified as 27-year-old Justyna Hulboj and her daughter, four-year-old Lena Czepczor. Both died at the scene after being hit by an Audi TT RS driven by Hardeep Bhachu, 29, on Scott Hall Road.
Jasskamal Riyat, 37, was driving a BMW M135i and was found to have been racing Bhachu shortly before the collision.
Bhachu pleaded guilty in June 2024 to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Riyat denied responsibility but was convicted of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and received a 16-year prison sentence.
Both men were also banned from driving for six years and will have to pass extended driving tests before they can return to the road.
How the Fatal Race Began
During the trial, the court heard that the two men did not know each other before the incident. Minutes before the crash, they stopped alongside each other at a traffic light and spoke through the windows of their respective cars.
Evidence from Bhachu's dashcam and a recording on Riyat's phone reportedly showed the men discussing the power of their vehicles. Riyat was said to have encouraged Bhachu before the pair accelerated away and began racing.
The incident unfolded on a road with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour. Bhachu was travelling at nearly 90 mph when he hit a kerb and lost control of the Audi.
The vehicle mounted the pavement near a Jaguar dealership and struck Justyna and Lena, who were on their way to school.
Judge Warns Against Dangerous Driving
During sentencing, Judge Ray Singh stressed that public roads must never be treated as racetracks. He warned that driving powerful cars at extreme speeds could have irreversible consequences.
West Yorkshire Police Detective Inspector Paul Conroy said the deaths had caused immense suffering for the victims' family. He acknowledged that the lengthy criminal justice process had taken a toll on those waiting for justice.
The officer added that the sentencing marked the end of a long legal process for the family, more than two years after Bhachu admitted his role in the tragedy.
The case has renewed attention on the dangers of street racing and reckless driving. The deaths of a mother and her young daughter underline the potentially devastating consequences when drivers turn public roads into racetracks, putting pedestrians and other road users at risk.
Reader Comments 0