Drunk Driver High on Nitrous Oxide Jailed for 15 Years After Killing Student in 91mph Crash
A speeding drunk driver who was high on nitrous oxide and killed a student when he slammed into the back of his car at 91mph has been jailed for 15 years. Saqlane Zaffar, 28, smashed into Ryan Sandhu's Ford Fiesta on a closed lane of Birmingham's Aston Expressway after driving as fast as he could, forcing other cars to swerve out of the way shortly after midnight on June 2, 2024.
Catastrophic Collision and Tragic Loss
The 21-year-old victim, Ryan Sandhu, suffered a catastrophic head injury and died at the scene. Zaffar, however, miraculously walked away from the high-speed crash unscathed and was picked up by a friend, Muhammad Hamza, who had earlier been driving in convoy with him. The pair then ended up in a police chase and crashed again before being arrested.
Mr Sandhu's heartbroken family paid tribute to him following the collision, saying: 'In loving memory of Ryan Sandhu, 21 years old and our family's brightest light. His infectious humour and playful spirit made him the heart and soul of our family. As the baby of our family, Ryan was loved beyond words by each and every one of us. Beloved son, brother, uncle, grandson, and friend, our lives have been forever shattered by his loss. He will be missed more than words can express.'
Court Sentencing and Legal Consequences
Zaffar, of Saltley, Birmingham, who had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, was also banned from driving for 10 years at Birmingham Crown Court this Friday. Hamza, 29, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, was convicted of perverting the course of justice and dangerous driving following a trial and was jailed for four and a half years.
Sentencing Zaffar, Judge Peter Cooke told him he had 'run the length of the A38 at the highest speed that he could while Hamza had circled round a roundabout waiting for him.' He added: 'That was what you agreed would happen. You were not racing against your friend but against the clock putting the Audi through its paces.'
Details of the Fatal Night
That night, Mr Sandhu, who had just finished the third year of a degree at Staffordshire University, was due to attend the funeral of his uncle the next day and was queuing at roadworks on the A38(M). Meanwhile, Zaffar and Hamza had rented high-performance cars and stopped at a Shell petrol station where Zaffar was seen on CCTV filling balloons with nitrous oxide - also known as 'Hippy Crack' - 'like on a production line', the court heard.
Zaffar drove his Audi SQ7 out of the city and onto the A38, accelerating all the time, to over 80mph as he undertook other vehicles. Prosecutor Daniel Oscroft said, 'He could have easily killed anyone in his path, specifically workers on foot in the road as well as oncoming vehicles.'
Dangerous Actions and Aftermath
Zaffar ploughed through cones set out at roadworks, forcing one of the workmen to dive out of the way of his speeding car. Shortly after this, Zaffar careered into the back of Mr Sandhu's car, causing it to shunt into a Mercedes. Zaffar and a passenger in the car had their lives spared by the front airbags that deployed in the crash.
As Mr Sandhu lay dying, Zaffar and his passenger gathered up a number of items, including nitrous oxide canisters, and tossed them over the side of the Aston Expressway. Hamza cruised up in a blue Nissan Qashqai in closed lanes past the queueing traffic and Zaffar got in. Police later found them and a high-speed pursuit began at speeds of around 80mph until Hamza crashed and everyone ran out of the car.
Police Response and Condemnation
Police caught up to them shortly afterwards and Zaffar and Hamza were arrested. Zaffar was 'so intoxicated he couldn't stand, when police tried to take samples of his blood and breath, he refused.'
Sergeant Rich Evans, from West Midlands Police, said afterwards: 'This was a truly horrific collision that claimed the life of a young man, Ryan Sandhu, and devastated his family. Ryan had everything ahead of him, and no family should ever have to endure the grief and pain that his loved ones now face. The driver responsible, Saqlane Zaffar, showed complete disregard for the safety of others. He was travelling at 91 miles per hour when he struck Ryan's vehicle, and then fled the scene without even checking on him. His actions demonstrated a shocking lack of care and responsibility.'
