Jail for Woman Who Caused Fatal Collision in Battersea


Rajanee Brown was drunk when she crashed killing her friend

A 26-year-old woman has been jailed for three years after she was found to have caused the death of her friend by dangerous driving.

Rajanee Brown of Balham Hill was on her way back from a nightclub in the early hours of 22 December 2019 when she veered onto the wrong site of the road and crashed into a National Express coach.

She had been awake for 20 hours and was driving a hired VW Polo which burst into flames when the collision occurred at 4.20am.

She escaped from the car relatively unharmed but her passenger, 24-year-old Aliyah Roach was severely injured and pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics to save her. She worked as a teaching assistant and had a seven year old son.

During her trial at Kingston Crown Court, Brown had tried to shift the blame onto the coach driver but the judge concluded that he had probably saved her life by braking so quickly.

She was found to have been three times over the drink drive limit and the judge said that the combination of alcohol and lack of sleep caused her to fall asleep at the wheel.

In addition to the jail sentence, she is disqualified from driving for 54 months following which she is required to take and pass a driving test should she wish to drive again.

Detective Inspector Helen Craine, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "This tragic case highlights the need to remain alert and vigilant on the roads, paying attention at all times.

"By not doing so, Brown, has left Aliyah's young son without his mother, her parents without their daughter, as well as the wider family and friends suffering her loss."

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November 10, 2021