Speeding drivers jailed for fatal crash

Andrew Phillips (left) and Vijay Kumar were in separate cars when they were speeding in Wolverhampton

Two drivers who were speeding before one of their vehicles hit and killed an 89-year-old woman as she crossed a road have been jailed.

Andrew Phillips and Vijay Kumar, from Wolverhampton, were in separate vehicles when they both "burst through" red lights in Snow Hill, in the city in January 2023, police said.

Kumar, 23, swerved to avoid the pedestrian, who was not named by police, but Phillips, 30, crashed into her and she died in hospital five days later.

Phillips admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for six years eight months at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Kumar admitted dangerous driving and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Snow Hill has a speed limit of 20mph but Phillips was calculated to have been driving at more than 60mph and Kumar at least 43mph, West Midlands Police said.

Kumar, of Brough Close, Wolverhampton, drove off in his Mercedes after the crash but officers managed to identify his vehicle, which was uninsured, and traced him.

Phillips, of Cedar Grove, Wolverhampton, who was travelling closely behind in an Audi RS Q3, remained at the scene.

It was not thought the men knew each other before the speeding and subsequent crash at about 15:20 GMT on 14 January 2023.

Phillips was also banned from driving for over eight years and Kumar also disqualified from driving for two years and six months at the sentencing hearing on Friday.