A Nigerian-born taxi driver in the United Kingdom, Kolawole Erunkulu, has been sentenced to six years in prison after falling asleep behind the wheel and fatally striking a man who had pulled into a lay-by for a break.
Erunkulu, 45, who lives in Bexleyheath, had reportedly spent 53 hours driving over a three-day period before the fatal accident, with his longest period of rest lasting only seven hours.
The crash occurred on August 17, 2025, when Erunkulu’s Audi left the road and struck 59-year-old Philip Dray, who was getting back into his Volkswagen after stopping at a lay-by.
According to LBC News, footage recorded inside Erunkulu’s vehicle showed that he experienced a microsleep shortly before the collision. His vehicle subsequently veered off the road, hit Dray and continued moving for approximately 10 seconds.
Investigators established that Erunkulu had worked as a taxi driver for about 12 hours, taking only brief breaks, before the fatal collision.
He later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in June 2026.
The court sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment and banned him from driving for eight years. He will also have to pass an extended driving test should he seek to obtain another licence in the future.
Delivering the sentence, Her Honour Judge Lees said the evidence clearly showed that Erunkulu was dangerously exhausted and should not have remained behind the wheel.
“The footage shows the defendant was extremely tired and, in my view, has continued to drive when he must have known that. He was driving commercially,” she said.
The judge added: “Even though he didn’t have a passenger, he could have done and has driven in that state. All of this could have been stopped had he have slept.”
The acting Detective Inspector of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, Rob Baldwin, said the tragedy underscored the potentially deadly consequences of driving while suffering from fatigue.
“This case sadly highlights the very real dangers of driving while fatigued. Mr. Erunkulu had worked long hours with insufficient rest over the preceding days, accumulating a sleep debt,” he said.
Baldwin warned that tiredness could severely affect a driver’s alertness and ability to respond to danger, particularly during the early hours of the day.
“Fatigue can seriously impair a driver’s ability to remain alert and react safely, particularly during the early hours of the morning when the natural drive to sleep is at its strongest. Anyone who feels tired should not continue driving, as the consequences can be devastating.”
A microsleep may last for only a few seconds, but during that brief period, a person’s brain can fail to properly process information or respond to surrounding dangers.
Meanwhile, Dray’s grieving family paid emotional tributes to him, describing him as “an amazing partner and man” who was reliable, caring and deeply respectful of others.
His sister recalled that he lived a quiet life and never sought public attention.
“He never sought attention and lived his life quietly, but he cared deeply about others and treated people with respect and decency. He was simply a good man,” she said.
She also noted the painful irony surrounding his death, explaining that Dray had spent much of his life being a responsible and safety-conscious driver.
“The fact that he, someone who worked every day to keep others safe, had his life taken in such a way makes this loss even more incomprehensible and tragic,” she said.
Dray’s partner also remembered him as a loving and gentle man who was always ready to offer comfort.
She described him as a “sweet, gentle, and caring man” and “the one who was always there to give me a hug.”
“Phil was my partner and my soulmate,” she said, adding that his death had left “an enormous emotional and physical void”.
Recalling their daily routine, she said Dray regularly called her whenever he had a break from work simply to find out how she was doing.
“He would ring me several times a day whenever he was waiting for a client or at lunch, just to see how my day was going. I miss those calls very much,” she said.