Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine

Two men have been sentenced to a combined 24 years and five months in prison after a high-speed crash in Manchester, England, claimed the life of Nigerian-born motorist Sylvester Abayomi, who was travelling to work when his vehicle was struck by a speeding car driven through a red light. 

The fatal collision occurred at about 4:30 a.m. on March 9, 2026, at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway in South Manchester. Court proceedings heard that 50-year-old Sylvester Abayomi was lawfully driving through the junction on a green signal when a Volkswagen Golf GTI crashed into his vehicle after travelling at extreme speed. He suffered catastrophic injuries and later died despite emergency medical efforts. 

Manchester Crown Court sentenced 20-year-old Uways Hussain to 11 years and eight months in prison after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while uninsured, and failing to provide a specimen. Passenger and vehicle owner Usmon Mahmood, 23, received a longer sentence of 12 years and nine months after admitting aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and related offences. 

According to prosecutors and Greater Manchester Police, the pair spent hours driving recklessly across South Manchester before the crash. Videos recovered from mobile phones showed them travelling at speeds well above 100 mph on roads restricted to 30 mph. Investigators found evidence that the vehicle reached 139 mph shortly before the collision. The footage also showed the men inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons while driving, running red lights, and weaving dangerously through traffic.

Judge Nicholas Dean KC described the recordings shown in court as “terrifying” and said the driving involved a sustained and deliberate course of dangerous conduct. The court heard that the defendants repeatedly ignored basic road safety rules and appeared to engage in increasingly risky behaviour throughout the night. 

One of the most significant aspects of the case involved evidence captured after the collision. An automatic crash detection feature on Hussain’s Apple Watch contacted emergency services after detecting the impact. Unaware that the device had initiated a call, the pair were reportedly recorded discussing plans to leave the scene, remove evidence, arrange an Uber, and falsely report the vehicle as stolen. Prosecutors said the conversation revealed concern about avoiding responsibility rather than helping the victim. 

Police officers tracked and arrested both men within minutes of the emergency alert. Investigators later recovered further digital evidence, including videos and vehicle data confirming the car’s extreme speed before impact. Authorities described the prosecution as highly unusual because Mahmood, although not driving, was convicted for actively encouraging and facilitating the dangerous behaviour that led to Abayomi’s death. Greater Manchester Police said it is believed to be one of the first cases in the United Kingdom where a passenger has been convicted for aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving. 

During sentencing, the court heard an emotional victim impact statement from Abayomi’s partner, Denise Doyle. She told the defendants that Sylvester had simply been on his way to work and should have returned home safely. She condemned their actions after the collision, saying they left him without showing compassion or humanity while focusing on their own escape. 

Abayomi was widely remembered by relatives and friends as a hardworking and caring man. Family tributes described him as a gentle person who was loved by those around him and whose death had left a profound impact on his community. 

The case has drawn national attention in Britain because of the extreme speeds involved and the role digital evidence played in securing convictions. Police investigators said the incident ranks among the most serious dangerous-driving cases they have encountered, noting that the defendants’ actions showed a complete disregard for public safety.

Both men will also face lengthy driving disqualifications after their release. Authorities said the outcome sends a strong message about the consequences of reckless driving and the criminal liability that can extend beyond the person behind the wheel when passengers actively encourage dangerous conduct. 

The death of Sylvester Abayomi has renewed discussions in the United Kingdom about speeding, drug-impaired driving, and the growing role of vehicle and wearable technology in criminal investigations. In this case, prosecutors argued that the digital trail left behind by the defendants provided crucial evidence that helped reconstruct the events leading to one of the country’s most severe fatal dangerous-driving convictions involving a single victim. 

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