A young driver who struck and killed an unborn child in a devastating hit-and-run incident has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. The case has highlighted the catastrophic consequences of reckless driving and the profound grief experienced by the victims’ families.
The Incident
On a dark, rainy evening in September of last year, 20-year-old Ashir Shahid was driving through Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, at dangerous speeds when tragedy struck. Ranju Joseph, a healthcare assistant, was carefully crossing a zebra crossing with two colleagues on their way to begin a night shift at approximately 7:50 PM.
Shahid’s Toyota Prius was traveling at an estimated 58-71 mph in wet conditions through a 30 mph zone when he approached the pedestrian crossing. Rather than slowing down, witnesses reported that he appeared to accelerate and swerve, ultimately striking Mrs. Joseph and throwing her into the path of oncoming traffic.
The Aftermath
The impact left Mrs. Joseph with severe head and spinal injuries, but the most devastating consequence was the threat to her unborn child. Doctors performed an emergency cesarean section in an attempt to save the baby’s life after the placenta ruptured and Mrs. Joseph suffered significant bleeding.
Baby Olive Joseph was born that evening but survived only five hours and 38 minutes before passing away. This was Mrs. Joseph’s first pregnancy with her husband Nigel, whom she had married five years earlier. The child was very much planned and wanted by the couple.
Callous Behavior Following the Crash
Rather than stopping to help, Shahid fled the scene with his passenger. Video evidence revealed the shocking callousness of his actions in the hours following the collision. Within 11 minutes of the crash, Shahid was searching his mobile phone for information about “charge for hit and run human.”
The pair was later captured on CCTV at a local chicken shop, laughing and joking about the incident. One companion was heard saying, “I’m basically with a murderer,” and asking staff not to provide the CCTV footage to authorities. Most disturbingly, Shahid was recorded singing along to the song “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy as they drove away from the scene.
Pattern of Dangerous Driving
Evidence presented in court showed that Shahid’s reckless behavior was not an isolated incident. Video clips taken before the crash demonstrated his erratic driving, including reaching speeds of up to 71 mph through Preston and South Ribble. In one particularly shocking clip, his passenger was filmed sitting on the front passenger door window with most of his body outside the moving vehicle.
The Sentencing
At Preston Crown Court, Judge Ian Unsworth KC condemned Shahid’s actions, comparing his acceleration before the crash to “what you may see on a Formula 1 race track.” The judge described the driving as “nothing less than appalling” and noted the “prolonged and persistent course of dangerous driving.”
Shahid was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving of baby Olive Joseph and causing serious injury by dangerous driving of Mrs. Joseph, resulting in a 13-year prison sentence.
Impact on the Family
The emotional toll on the Joseph family has been immeasurable. In her victim impact statement, Mrs. Joseph expressed the profound grief that has consumed her life: “Everything has changed for me now. Everything has been ruined by that one night and the callous and reckless actions of those two people in that car. My life will never be the same again.”
She continued, “I will never get to meet my baby, be a mummy to him or watch him grow up. They have taken my first child away from me and I will never get him back.”
Her husband Nigel described the heartbreak of the experience: “My whole life changed that night. My baby Olive was born and he was so tiny. We were planning a gender reveal party but I found out his sex when he was placed in my arms. Ranju was fighting for her life and she would never have the chance to meet her child.”
A Lasting Legacy
The case serves as a stark reminder of how a moment of reckless driving can destroy multiple lives forever. Baby Olive Joseph lived for less than six hours, never seeing dawn, and his parents will carry the grief of his loss for the rest of their lives. The Joseph family’s statement that “not a day goes by without me thinking of our baby boy Olive” reflects the permanent impact of this preventable tragedy.
This case underscores the critical importance of responsible driving and the severe legal and human consequences that result from dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
