Omar Choudhury of Broadway, Royton, and Hamidur Rahman of Tilbury Street, Oldham have been sentenced to 14 years each in prison for causing death by dangerous driving. In addition to their prison terms, they both received a minimum disqualification from driving for 12 years. This verdict comes in the wake of their reckless actions that led to the tragic death of 16-year-old Alisha Goup.
The fatal incident occurred on the early afternoon of Thursday, February 23, 2023, around 1:30 pm, as Alisha was walking to Oldham Sixth Form College. She lost her life on Rochdale Road outside the Coldhurst Community Park, near the Royal Oldham Hospital junction. This area is known for its busy main road with footpaths, bus stops, a zebra crossing, and numerous residential and business properties.
Alisha’s life was cut short when a BMW 3 series, with the registration OM08 ARR, mounted the pavement and collided with her while she was walking along the footpath. Prior to this tragic incident, the car had hit a white Ford Fiesta at a junction and lost control while attempting to overtake on the wrong side of the road.
Evidential CCTV footage presented during the trial showed Choudhury and Rahman racing through the streets of Oldham, overtaking cars on St Mary’s Way and Chadderton Way before the collision on Rochdale Road. Rahman, who was driving a BMW 1 series with the registration H21 MDR, was not insured to drive this vehicle.
The fatal collision involving Alisha took place following an earlier confrontation in public with a weapon believed to be a baseball bat. This led to Choudhury reversing on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, mounting a pedestrian island, and driving on the wrong side of the carriageway. These reckless actions, combined with excessive speed, culminated in the tragedy that claimed Alisha’s life.
Despite the collision and damage to his vehicle, Choudhury continued to drive through traffic lights and away from the scene, coming to a stop outside the Royal Oldham Hospital. Members of the public detained Choudhury at the scene until police officers arrived.
GMP forensic reconstruction examiners determined that Choudhury was traveling at over double the speed limit (66mph) just moments before the collision.
Hamidur Rahman was arrested a few days later on February 24, 2023, following extensive inquiries. A jury found him guilty due to his significant involvement in the incident.
Evidence recovered from Choudhury’s phone revealed videos of him driving at high speeds on multiple occasions, highlighting his utter disregard for the safety of others.
In a poignant statement, Alisha’s parents remembered their daughter as caring, selfless, and sensible, and they expressed the profound impact her loss has had on their family.
Police Sergeant Louise Warhurst, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, praised the public for their assistance during the investigation and commended the family for their dignity throughout the trial. She emphasized the consequences of dangerous driving, urging individuals to think twice before exceeding speed limits, as their actions can have devastating effects on innocent lives. Sergeant Warhurst reassured the community that dangerous drivers would not be tolerated, and law enforcement would take robust action to protect people from illegal and irresponsible driving.
