A doctor who drove at almost double the speed limit into a brick wall in Altrincham has been convicted of causing the death of his nine-year-old daughter.
Dr Chizoro Edohasim, 47, from Altrincham, was convicted of causing the death of Olivia by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving to her 11-year-old sister Eva.
Jurors at Minshull Street Crown Court, who unanimously found him guilty on both counts, heard during the trial that Dr Edohasim, a medical researcher, crashed his Toyota Auris into the brick wall of a block of apartments at the junction of Manchester Road and Stamford Brook Road on Saturday May 7th 2016.
He was found to be driving at speeds of up to 59mph, almost double the speed limit on the 30mph road.
Olivia, described as someone who “brought smiles to all faces at all times”, was in the back seat and died at the scene while Eva, in the passenger seat, underwent emergency surgery at Manchester Children’s Hospital. Both girls had been wearing seatbelts.
Andrew Nuttall, prosecuting, told the jury according to the Manchester Evening News: “In their opinion, he drove applying full throttle to the Toyota demanding maximum power travelling at speeds of at least 59mph across the junction and at no time was the brake ever used.”
When CCTV of the incident was played in court, Dr Edohasim wept and said: “Why did this happen to me? My family, my daughter. Where are you? I can’t take it. How did this happen to us?”
Dr Edohasim had blamed mechanical failure for the crash but vehicle experts from Greater Manchester Police found no such evidence.
Eyewitness Nicholas Gee said in court: “There was a car overtaking other vehicles in my lane coming towards me. I realised that if I didn’t do something it was going to hit me. If I had not stopped there would have been a head-on collision. The driving was reckless and suicidal.”
Dr Edohasim, who also suffered serious injuries in the crash, will be sentenced on January 26th.
