Halifax driver ran red light and fled from scene after killing man on pedestrian crossing

Hamzah Khan, now 21, pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court to causing the death of Robert Provis by dangerous driving following the fatal collision back on September 29, 2018.

Khan, then aged 20, had held a driving licence for five months and his barrister Tom Gent told the court that his client had only been driving regularly for about a month before the offence.

Prosecutor Michael Smith described how Mr Provis, who was known to his family as Bob, had left his father’s home that night and was on his way to his sister’s when he was hit by the Renault Megane at a major junction on Aachen Way in Halifax.

Mr Smith said the road had a 30mph limit, but Khan had been driving his cousin’s Megane at about 46mph when he went through a red light at the crossing.

The court heard that another car had already stopped for the red light at the crossing and although Mr Provis himself had started cross before the “green man” was illuminated he would have a reasonable expectation that he would not be struck by another vehicle.

Mr Smith submitted that the fault lay “completely and overwhelming” with the defendant who drove off after the collision despite the significant damage to his vehicle.

The court heard that Mr Provis massive injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Khan, of Spring Hall Lane, Halifax, abandoned the Megane about a mile away, but he returned to the scene of the collision about 45 minutes later and accepted being the driver involved.

In a later police interview Khan claimed that he had panicked in the aftermath and expressed sympathy for the deceased’s family.

Mr Smith explained how one of Mr Provis’ sisters had gone to the collision scene and realised it was her brother who had been struck when she tried to call his number and a phone could be heard ringing nearby.

In a family victim impact statement Mr Provis was described as a kind and loving man who wouldn’t hurt a soul and it was said that they had been caused huge pain by his death.

Mr Gent said Khan, who had no previous convictions, had been devastated by the consequences of his actions.

“He is desperately sorry for what he did. He wishes he could turn the clock back,” said Mr Gent.

Mr Gent said there was ample time for Khan to slow down and stop at the crossing, but he had continued at excessive speed taking a chance that he would get through the lights before they changed from amber to red.

“He was driving too quickly, foolishly and recklessly taking a chance on the traffic signal,” he conceded.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said it must have been a terrible shock for Mr Provis’ family to come across the scene following the collision and must also have been a terrible shock for the people who witnessed the incident.

“You approached a major traffic light junction too fast,” the judge told Khan.

“Your view of Mr Provis crossing the road was obscured by the vehicle which had stopped to your left.

“The action of that driver of course should have caused you to slow down and proceed much more cautiously in any event.

“Instead of stopping at the red light which could easily have done you drove through it at speed and collided with Mr Provis.”

The judge said Khan, who had been working as a delivery driver despite not being properly insured for the work, had been inexperienced as a driver at the time and that was all the more reason for him to be cautious.

Khan was also banned from driving for three years and four months and ordered to take an extended re-test.

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