UK-based Nigerian jailed for killing man after falling asleep on wheel

A Nigerian-British taxi driver, Kolawole Erunkulu, has been jailed for six years in the United Kingdom after falling asleep at the wheel and crashing into a man who had stopped in a roadside layby.

Erunkulu was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving over the fatal collision on the A23 in Merstham, Surrey.

The crash occurred shortly before 6.30am on Sunday, August 17, 2025, when Erunkulu’s Audi crossed into a layby and struck 59-year-old Philip Dray, who had parked his Volkswagen to take a break.

Dray was opening his vehicle’s driver’s door when he was hit. He died at the scene.

An investigation by Surrey Police found that Erunkulu had driven for about 53 hours during the three days before the crash. His longest rest period was seven hours, while other breaks included one of about four hours and two of around two hours.

In the 12 hours immediately before the collision, Erunkulu had been working as a taxi driver, taking only short breaks.

CCTV from inside his vehicle showed him experiencing what investigators described as a “microsleep” a brief episode of sleep lasting only seconds. During the episode, his Audi veered across the carriageway and struck Dray in the layby.

The footage showed Erunkulu continuing to drive for about 10 seconds before stopping at another layby.

Judge Lees said Erunkulu was “extremely tired” but continued driving despite knowing his condition.

“The footage shows the defendant was extremely tired and, in my view, has continued to drive when he must have known that,” the judge said.

She added: “All of this could have been stopped had he have slept.”

Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin of Surrey Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said Erunkulu had accumulated significant sleep debt after working long hours with insufficient rest.

“Mr Erunkulu had worked long hours with insufficient rest over the preceding days, accumulating a sleep debt,” Baldwin said.

He warned that fatigue could seriously impair a driver’s ability to remain alert and react safely, particularly during the early hours of the morning.

“Anyone who feels tired should not continue driving, as the consequences can be devastating,” he said.

Erunkulu, who holds British and Nigerian nationality, was charged in March 2026 and pleaded guilty when he appeared in court in June. Police said he would have faced a nine-year sentence had the case gone to trial.

He was also disqualified from driving for eight years and will have to pass an extended driving test if he seeks a new licence.

Dray’s family described him as an “amazing partner and man”, saying he was dependable, caring and someone others could rely on. His partner said his death had left an “enormous emotional and physical void”.

The family agreed to the release of footage showing Erunkulu falling asleep while driving to highlight the potentially fatal consequences of driver fatigue.

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