Salesman who killed father-of-two in crash jailed
The fatal crash happened on Hebden Bridge Road in April 2022
- Published
A window salesman who killed a father-of-two in a head-on crash on a road in West Yorkshire has been jailed for four years and eight months.
Daniel Midgley, 26, ignored a series of warning signs and markings before crashing into a car being driven by Parvin Vekaria in April 2022 near Hebden Bridge.
Mr Vekaria, 60, from Bradford, was described by his family as “a larger than life” character, suffered serious injuries and died in hospital 11 days later.
Midgley was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.
The incident happened on a country road just north of Hebden Bridge as Midgley drove to meet a potential customer.
He had overtaken other drivers on the afternoon of the crash and was driving at about 45mph on a stretch of road which had a 30mph limit, Bradford Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Andrew Stranex said on the approach to the collision site there were arrows warning drivers to return to the left lane, solid white lines and a warning of a sharp turn.
The warning “slow” was also painted on the carriageway.
'Loved by many'
Mr Stranex said: “Witnesses thought a collision would be inevitable if a car was coming in the opposite direction which tragically there was."
Victim impact statements read out in court by Mr Vekaria's wife and daughter talked of the “devastating” effect of his death.
His widow Janet said: “He was part of my life for a long time and no-one will ever replace him."
A statement by his son described how they had been going to football matches together since he was five-years-old and he now found it hard to go to games without his dad.
He said his father had been a "larger than life character" who was "loved by so many people".
Midgley, of Balmoral Chase, Leeds, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in January and the court was told he had expressed remorse and regret for his actions.
In addition to his prison term, he was also banned from driving for six years and four months and he must take an extended test before driving again.
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, external, X (formerly known as Twitter), external, and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.