Disqualified Leicester driver fled scene of fatal crash and hid in loft
A disqualified driver fled the scene of a four-vehicle collision which killed a young man[1] and seriously injured two others. Nathan Aitchison was then discovered hiding in a loft a day after the fatal crash in Nottinghamshire last year.
The 38-year-old, of Leicester’s[2] Claydon Road, had been driving his partner’s Volkswagen Beetle on the A46 southbound at Car Colston, near Bingham, on Saturday, September 24, when he lost control of the vehicle. The Beetle ploughed into the back of David Obada’s Fiat Punto.
The force propelled David’s car into the central reservation and flipped it onto its roof in the middle of the dual carriageway. It was then struck moments later by a Volkswagen Transporter van and then a Landrover Freelander.
David, who was 22, was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the Transporter and the Landrover were left seriously injured, but Aitchison had fled the scene.
Extensive searches in the immediate aftermath of the collision were then launched by Nottinghamshire Police who deployed its dog unit and drone team[4] to find the Beetle and Aitchison. The National Police Air Service were also involved in the search, but it was not until the following day (Sunday, September 25) that Aitchison was found in the loft of a house in Leicester.
In interviews, Aitchison - who was already disqualified from driving - denied being behind the wheel of the Beetle and blamed someone else. However, investigations led to him being charged with causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving while disqualified.
Aitchison would admit to the charges and appeared at Nottingham Crown Court[5] on Monday this week (July 10). He was jailed for five years and was disqualified from driving for eight years and three months. The court made it clear he would have to retake his driving test before being allowed back behind the wheel.
David Obada was just 22 when he was killed in the collision (Image: Nottinghamshire Police)
Speaking after sentencing, David’s family paid tribute, calling him a “most beloved son”. They said: “David left his home when he was 17 years old to build his future and help his family.
"He was the middle son and was a most beloved son. He worked hard to see his dreams come true and to make us as a family proud of him, but everything vanished in a second and we have been left with just memories.
“He has been taken away from us and from this life too early when his life was just starting. We will never forget his sweet face and smile and he will always be with us from between the angels.
"We will never forget you. God bless you up there in heaven.”
Investigator Georgina Luke, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said Aitchison’s action showed the dangers of disqualified drivers. She said: “Nathan Aitchison was a disqualified driver who should not have been behind the wheel of any vehicle when this tragic collision happened.
"By driving without passing his test he knowingly put other road users at risk and drove without having the knowledge or experience to do so safely. After causing this collision, he then made the heartless decision to flee from the scene of chaos he’d caused, which sadly took a young man’s life.
"I hope that anyone thinking of driving whilst disqualified or without a licence will see this case and how serious the consequences can be.”
References
- ^ fled the scene of a four-vehicle collision which killed a young man (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Leicester’s (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Man in 80s fighting for life days on from crossroads crash (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ dog unit and drone team (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Nottingham Crown Court (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)