An elderly woman was killed in a car collision in Rowley Regis, and two men have now been jailed to six years and an eight-year driving ban.
Surinder Kaur, aged 81, was hit by a vehicle on Oldbury Road on 13 November, 2022.
Driving a blue Mini, Arjun Dosanjh, aged 26, and Jacek Wiatrowski, aged 51 driving a black BMW pulled up at traffic lights in their vehicles next to each other and decided to race.
The two vehicles were both traveling at a high rate of speed, significantly surpassing the designated speed limit.
According to the CCTV footage, Wiatrowski abruptly applied the brakes upon noticing Mrs. Kaur crossing the road.
Although he narrowly avoided hitting her, his actions caused Dosanjh to swerve onto the opposite side of the road, resulting in a collision with Mrs. Kaur. Both defendants admitted their guilt for causing death through dangerous driving during a previous court hearing.
Subsequently, Wiatrowski, residing at Pine Avenue in Wednesbury, and Dosanjih, residing at MacDonald Close in Oldbury, were each sentenced to six years in prison and an eight-year driving ban at Wolverhampton Crown Court on January 8th.
In a victim statement read out to the court, Mrs Kaur’s family said: “Our mum lived a very simple life. She was a deeply religious woman and on the day of the accident she was on her way home from the Guthwara.
“The days and weeks after mum’s death were really tough; as well as trying to come to terms with our loss we had to deal with an ongoing police investigation.
“My first thought every morning is of mum, my last thought every night is of mum. These thoughts are not happy memories, but the thought of the pain she must have experienced in those final moments of her life.
“These thoughts haunt all of her family.
“We are all trying to come to terms with the loss of our mum, we have all gone through so many different emotions but ultimately we are all just sad.
“Sad that every milestone we celebrate as a family will be filled with sadness as our mum will not be there.”
Detective Sergeant Chris Ridge, from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Mrs Kaur was on her way back from her local Gurdwara – the journey she made every day and was killed during her daily routine.
“She was devoted to her faith and family and my thoughts are with her loved ones who have been deeply affected by her death.
“Wiatrowski and Dosanjh did not know each other and were driving competitively – this dangerous and foolish action has cost a life.
“The sentence imposed will never fill the void left in Mrs Kaur’s family and I extend my heartfelt condolences to them.”
Ensuring road safety is of utmost importance to us and our partners, including Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), local authorities, and the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
Last year, we collaborated under the Operation Triton initiative to commit to reducing the number of fatalities and severe injuries on our roads, and this effort remains ongoing.
Our teams are actively patrolling critical areas to enforce speed limits and safeguard our communities from the hazards associated with excessive speed and other road-related risks.
However, it is important to note that the police cannot be present everywhere at all times. We strongly encourage motorists to prioritize road safety and recognize that their actions can have a significant impact in preventing accidents and saving lives. We also greatly appreciate the support and cooperation of our communities in reporting any instances of dangerous driving.
The information they provide is invaluable in enabling us to take appropriate measures and prevent potential harm.
