A doctor who killed his nine-year-old daughter when his car ‘shot’ through a red light and into a wall has been jailed for four years by a judge who heard he was driving ‘like a lunatic’ while taking them to a maths lesson.
Chizoro Edohasim, 47, from Altrincham, was found guilty by a jury last month of causing the death by dangerous driving of Olivia Edohasim and a second count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving of another daughter, 11-year-old Eva Edohasim.
The charges related to an incident on May 7, 2016, when his Toyota Auris dangerously overtook a vehicle on the wrong side of Stamford Brook Road in Altrincham before speeding through a red light at up to 59mph.
Olivia, who had been sitting in the rear of the car, died at the scene. Both girls were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Dr Edohasim had been taking his daughters to maths tuition in Altrincham town centre. The injuries he suffered in the incident left him in a wheelchair.
During the trial he told the jury his car, an automatic, had suddenly gained speed despite him pressing the brake pedal.
The trial had heard that he overtook a car on the wrong side of the road, with the other driver forced to slam on his brakes. The man described Dr Edohasim as driving ‘like a lunatic’.
Sentencing him at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Stuart Driver QC said: “I find your driving to that point amounted to a deliberate dangerous manoeuvre.
“When you were back in your lane you were driving above the 30mph speed limit and you had red lights ahead of you.
“You intended to brake but evidence shows that instead of braking, for at least the last six seconds the accelerator was pressed, and for the last four seconds it was pressed to the floor.
“It was not suggested that was deliberate. I find that you intended to press the brake pedal but pressed the accelerator in error.
“You reacted to your mistake by pressing the pedal harder and keeping your foot pressed down. Your car shot through the junction and into a wall.
“Your daughter Olivia, 9, was killed and your daughter Eva, 11, sustained serious injuries for which she needed surgery and spent up to one month in hospital.”
The judge added: “There is a grave aggravating feature that you also caused serious injury to your older daughter, which means both sentences will be higher to reflect.
“There are two powerful factors in mitigation. One is the injuries to yourself, the second is the fact you are a man of exemplary good character.
“Witnesses have spoken about you in glowing terms.
“I accept that any conviction will have a significant impact on your career. Finally, and most importantly in mitigation, there is the factor that the deceased was one of your children.
“I accept that you were a loving father and this will make a significant difference to your sentence.
“You will carry with you the heavy burden of what you did for the rest of your life.
“But the offences you committed were so serious only a substantial prison sentence can be imposed.”
In mitigation, Simon Russell Flint QC, said: “This case is more than tragic.
“It was his fault, the jury decided, and for some inexplicable and senseless reason he didn’t press the brake pedal but instead pressed the accelerator.
“For any father to have to carry this with them is a huge burden. There is no doubt the Dr Edohasim will continue to suffer long after any sentence from the court has expired.”
The court heard that Dr Edohasim had one previous conviction for a motoring offence, when he was flashed by a speed camera on the motorway, for which he received a fixed penalty.
He was jailed for four years for causing death by dangerous driving and three years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was also banned from driving for a total of five years.
