By Ahmed Abdelsalam
A woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing the death of her friend by dangerous driving after she crashed a hired Lamborghini Urus at speeds up to 143mph on the M62 motorway in West Yorkshire.
Crash details
The collision occurred at 4:20am on 21 December 2022 in wet, dark conditions. Humaira Batool, then 22, lost control of the vehicle, which hit a barrier, flipped over and burst into flames. Her passenger, Mohammed Shaan Hussain, 20, suffered fatal injuries.
Trial and sentencing
During the trial, Batool claimed Hussain had reached over and touched something, causing the car to surge, but the jury rejected her account. She was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in September 2024. Judge Ray Singh said Batool made a "conscious decision to drive at extraordinary speed" in conditions that made such driving especially dangerous. She received a 10-year prison term and a 10-year driving ban.
Victim impact
In a statement read to the court, Hussain's mother, Nasreen Akhtar, described her son as kind, careful and a loyal friend, a "beloved son and cherished brother" loved beyond measure. His brother, Mohammed Souhail Hussain, said the family's lives have been incredibly difficult since the loss, with his absence felt every day.
Police response
Detective Inspector Paul Conroy of the major collision enquiry team welcomed the sentence, stating Batool's actions caused the death of a young man in the prime of his life, devastating his family. He emphasised the responsibility that comes with controlling a high-performance vehicle.
