A van driver who killed a university student and seriously injured two other people has been jailed for eight years.
Christopher Jackson, 27, ploughed through a set of iron gates leading to the pedestrian zone of The Strand in central London shortly before lunchtime on March 18 last year.
The heavy gates struck a 28-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, leaving both with severe and life-changing injuries.
Jackson carried on accelerating forwards, hitting a flower bed and briefly going airborne before smashing into Kings College London student Aalia Mahomed.
The 20-year-old, who was in her second year of a physics and philosophy degree, was sitting on a bench with her back to the van when it hit her. She died at the scene.
Her mum Samira Shafi paid tribute to her in a statement read out at the Old Bailey, saying she was ‘the most amazing daughter’.
The police investigation revealed no faults with the van and detectives pinned the blame squarely on Jackson, with a spokesperson saying: ‘Forensic collision investigators established that one of the main causes of the incident was unintended acceleration, made worse by Jackson’s panic.’
Jackson, of Southampton, previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He looked down in the dock today 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.
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Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith 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.’
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