A van driver who knocked down an iron gate which hit two people, then mounted a flower bed and fatally struck a university student who was sitting on a bench in central London has been jailed for eight years.
Aalia Mahomed, who was studying at King’s College London, died at the scene of the collision on the Strand on March 18 last year.
The 20-year-old, who was in her second year of a physics and philosophy degree, was described by her mother Samira Shafi in a statement in court as “the most amazing daughter”.
Two other people, Irem Yoldas and Yamin Belmessous, were injured in the incident.
Christopher Jackson, 27, of Southampton, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday and was jailed for eight years after previously pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Emergency services were called to The Strand, near Kings College London campus, at 11:41hrs on Tuesday, 18 March 2025.
On the morning of the incident, Jackson arrived at work and was assigned to collect two electric vehicles from Bush House in Aldwych. While leaving Bush House’s courtyard, he drove at speed towards a set of iron gates leading to the pedestrian zone of The Strand. Jackson collided with the gates, forcing them open. This force led the gates to hit and seriously injure a 28-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man.
Members of the public rushed to help and they were taken to hospital by emergency responders. The impact of the collision left them both with severe and life-changing injuries.
Jackson continued to drive the vehicle forwards, causing it to mount a flower bed. The vehicle became briefly airborne before colliding with Aalia, who was sitting on a bench on the other side of the flower bed. She was facing away from the vehicle at the time of the collision.
The defendant looked down as Judge Philip Katz KC jailed him for eight years for causing death by dangerous driving, and three years each for the two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which will run concurrently.
Jackson was told he would serve two-thirds of his sentence before being released on licence.
He was also told he would be disqualified from driving for five years, which would be extended for the period he will be in custody, and that he must pass a compulsory retest.
Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith, from the Metropolitan Police Service, said: “It is almost a year to the day since this terrible incident took place. It should never have happened, and Aalia should still be with us today, surrounded by those who loved her.
“Our thoughts, as always, remain with Aalia’s family and friends. Their strength over the past year has been extraordinary. We cannot begin to imagine the immeasurable suffering they have been through since last March.
“We would also like to share our thoughts with the two other victims, whose lives have been forever changed. They continue to show remarkable courage, and we know their lives will never be the same.
“Finally, I’d like to thank everyone involved in this investigation. We hope that this case serves as a reminder of the consequences of dangerous driving.”
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Roy Pershad, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Our thoughts remain with all those who knew and loved Aalia Mahomed, as well as with the other victims who were seriously injured. This must be an unimaginably difficult time for all concerned.
"This was a catastrophic crash which claimed the life of Aalia, a young woman with her whole future ahead of her, and left two other people with life-changing injuries.
“Every person who gets behind the wheel has a responsibility to drive safely and with due care for those around them — the consequences when that driving falls short of that responsibility can be devastating.
"The Crown Prosecution Service carefully reviewed the evidence and worked closely with our police colleagues to build the strongest possible case. Jackson subsequently pleaded guilty to all charges brought against him.
"We hope today's sentence provides some measure of justice and comfort to Aalia's family and to the other victims, as they continue to grieve and recover."
