Nigerian taxi driver in UK gets six years for deadly crash after falling asleep

A Nigerian taxi driver in the UK, Kolawole Erunkulu, has been sentenced to six years in prison after he fell asleep while driving and hit a man who had stopped for a break.

The 45-year-old Erunkulu, who lives in Bexleyheath, had driven for 53 hours over three days. His longest break during this time was only seven hours.

The crash happened on August 17, 2025. Erunkulu’s Audi went off the road and hit 59-year-old Philip Dray, who was getting into his Volkswagen after taking a break.

LBC News reported on Tuesday that a video from inside Erunkulu’s car showed him having a microsleep just before the crash. His car swerved off the road, struck Dray, and continued for about 10 seconds.

Before the collision, Erunkulu had been driving as a taxi driver for about 12 hours with just short breaks.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in June 2026.

The court sentenced him to six years in prison. He was also banned from driving for eight years. If he wants a new driving licence in the future, he will have to pass an extended driving test.

While sentencing him, Her Honour Judge Lees said the footage showed how tired Erunkulu was and that he should have stopped driving.

"The footage shows the defendant was extremely tired and, in my view, has continued to drive when he must have known that. He was driving commercially," she said.

"Even though he didn’t have a passenger, he could have done and has driven in that state. All of this could have been stopped had he slept."

Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said the case shows how dangerous it is to drive when tired.

"This case sadly highlights the very real dangers of driving while fatigued. Mr Erunkulu had worked long hours with insufficient rest over the preceding days, accumulating a sleep debt," he said.

"Fatigue can seriously impair a driver’s ability to remain alert and react safely, particularly during the early hours of the morning when the natural drive to sleep is at its strongest. Anyone who feels tired should not continue driving, as the consequences can be devastating."

A microsleep can last only a few seconds, but during that time, the brain may not process information properly, according to LBC News.

Dray’s family remembered him as “an amazing partner and man” who was reliable and steady.

His sister said he lived quietly but cared deeply about others and treated people with respect.

"He never sought attention and lived his life quietly, but he cared deeply about others and treated people with respect and decency. He was simply a good man," she said.

She noted that Dray had always been a careful driver, working hard to keep his passengers and others safe on the road.

"The fact that he, someone who worked every day to keep others safe, had his life taken in such a way makes this loss even more incomprehensible and tragic," she said.

Dray’s partner called him a “sweet, gentle, and caring man” and said he was “the one who was always there to give me a hug.”

"Phil was my partner and my soulmate," she said, adding that his death created “an enormous emotional and physical void.”

She shared that Dray would call her several times a day whenever he was waiting for a client or having lunch just to check on her day.

"He would ring me several times a day whenever he was waiting for a client or at lunch, just to see how my day was going. I miss those calls very much," she said.