Van driver jailed after killing London student
Van Driver Jailed After Killing London Student
A 27-year-old man from Southampton has received an eight-year prison sentence following a van crash that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old student near a London university campus.
Christopher Jackson, who admitted to causing Aalia Mahomed’s death through dangerous driving on 18 March last year, was involved in the incident near King’s College London’s (KCL) campus in the Strand. The court learned that Jackson was tasked with retrieving a van from Bush House, Aldwych, but had no prior experience operating electric vehicles.
During the trial, it was revealed that the van collided with gates close to the campus, vaulted over a flower bed, and briefly lifted off the ground before striking Ms Mahomed as she sat on a bench. The accident concluded with the van halting near the wall of St Mary-Le-Strand church. The entire event unfolded in approximately six seconds.
“When you lose a child, you don’t just lose a presence of someone in your life, you lose a part of yourself,” said Samira Shafi, Aalia’s mother. “Our beautiful Aalia had her whole life ahead of her, cut so short at the age of 20 with no warning and no goodbyes… the loss on the wider family is also immense.”
Jackson had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which led to life-altering harm for two other KCL students, Irem Yoldas and Yamin Belmessous. However, the judge emphasized that Jackson’s actions reflected “significant irresponsibility,” citing his lack of experience with electric vans and the panic-induced unintended acceleration that contributed to the crash.
During sentencing, Judge Philip Katz KC remarked: “In my judgment, any careful and competent driver will ensure they can handle the vehicle safely before setting off.” The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the van had no mechanical issues and identified panic as a key factor exacerbating the unintended acceleration.
Jackson, who was found slumped forward during his interview with officers and gave no explanation, was told his remorse was immediate and sincere. He received a concurrent three-year sentence for the two serious injury charges, with two-thirds of his time served before release on licence. Additionally, he has been banned from driving and must pass a retest to resume operating a vehicle.
The case is still being updated with further details. For the latest news, follow Sky News on their app, WhatsApp, or YouTube channel.