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A man driving a van that fatally struck a student in central London has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The victim, Aalia Mahomed, aged 20, was a second-year physics and philosophy student at King’s College London. She died instantly at the scene on the Strand following the collision, which occurred on 18 March 2025.
The driver, Christopher Jackson from Southampton, lost control of an electric van. He drove into a metal gate with enough force to detach it from its hinges before the vehicle struck a bench where Aalia was sitting. Two other bystanders, Irem Yoldas and Yamin Belmessous, suffered serious injuries as a result of the incident. At his sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Philip Katz KC explained that Jackson had never driven this type of electric vehicle before and mistakenly pressed the accelerator, believing it to be the brake.
Jackson, 27, pleaded guilty in February to causing death by dangerous driving as well as two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. During the hearing, Aalia’s mother, Samira Shafi, made a heartfelt victim impact statement. She described her daughter as “the most amazing daughter” and expressed the profound pain of losing her, saying, “When you lose a child, you don’t just lose a presence of someone in your life, you lose a part of yourself.” Samira added, “This man brought her bright future to an end. Instead of celebrating her graduation I’m choosing words for her gravestone.” Aalia’s brother Zain also spoke, calling her a “genius with a smile that could cut through steel” and his “best friend… my hero.”
On the day of the tragedy, Jackson had been tasked by his employer with collecting the electric Ford Transit van from Bush House, Aldwych. Shortly after leaving, he accelerated toward iron gates near King’s College that led to a pedestrian zone. The van crashed through the gates, severely injuring the two bystanders, then mounted a flower bed before hitting Aalia on the bench. Jackson reportedly told the police immediately afterward that he “had no control” and the van “just took off.” Judge Katz accepted Jackson’s explanation that he was “taken by surprise” and believed the accelerator to be the brake. The judge also noted Jackson’s “immediate and genuine” remorse and acknowledged the impact the sentence would have on his partner and three children.
Jackson received an eight-year jail term for causing death by dangerous driving, along with concurrent three-year sentences for each injury count. He will serve two-thirds of the sentence before becoming eligible for release on licence. Prosecutor Roy Pershad described the crash as catastrophic, emphasizing that although the incident stemmed from pedal confusion, Jackson’s driving fell “far below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver.” Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith from the Metropolitan Police expressed sympathy for Aalia’s family and the injured victims, recognizing the enduring repercussions of the crash on all their lives
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