A speeding motorist who caused the death of an “extremely devoted” family man has been jailed.
Zakariya Navid struck a pedestrian as he sped along Alfreton Road, Bobbers Mill, in wet and dark road conditions on 17 March 2023.
Tragically, 66-year-old Vasile Predoiu – who had been crossing the road – died at the scene having sustained catastrophic injuries in the collision.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Navid, who was aged 23 at the time, initially fled the scene but returned a short time later and presented himself to officers.
A police investigation found he was uninsured at the time of the collision and that he tried to con officers by retrospectively purchasing insurance in the moments after he struck Mr Predoiu.
He also told officers that he hadn’t been speeding and Mr Predoiu had stepped in front of his Audi A3, causing the collision at approximately 10.45pm.
However a forensic collision report concluded his account was untrue and that he failed to stop in time because he travelling at approximately double the 30mph speed limit.
Navid was subsequently charged and put before the courts.
The case was heading for trial until Navid, now aged 26, finally entered guilty pleas at a hearing in May this year, admitting causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving while uninsured.
.
Zakariya Navid
At his sentencing hearing on Tuesday this week (12 August), a victim impact statement on behalf of Mr Predoiu’s family was read out in court.
The statement described him as “extremely devoted” to his wife of almost 50 years, as well as to his children and grandchildren.
It added: “As a personality, he was an extremely happy man and he enjoyed life. He liked simple things and he found his happiness with his family.
“He often helped his friends who had no work by bringing them food, he helped them get back on their feet. He found satisfaction in being useful and in giving something back to the community of which he was a part.
“He was also an extremely wise man. He had a kind word to say to every person around him and he tried to help everyone.”
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Steven Coupland said “no sentence can begin to reflect all that has been lost”.
He accepted Navid was a hardworking citizen who had shown remorse, but that his offending crossed the custodial threshold.
Jailing him for 26 months, he told Navid it was inexcusable to speed along a busy city road in wet and dark conditions.
He said: “If anything, those conditions should have led to you driving below the speed limit. Instead you chose to drive at double the speed limit.”
The judge also told Navid that he will be disqualified from driving for two years, effective from the point he is released on licence half-way through his sentence.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Emma Temple, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said:
“First and foremost, I would like to extend my condolences to Mr Predoiu’s family and friends.
“No sentence will ever undo the devastation and immense grief caused to them. However I hope the conclusion of the court proceedings provides some closure to them.
“Tragically, Mr Predoiu had been crossing the road in order to get home when he was struck by Navid’s car. He was an extremely devoted family man and the impact of his loss on his loving wife, children and grandchildren is simply beyond measure.
“The conclusion of this sad case acts as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences families can be left to face and for the need to stay safe on the roads.”
