Catch me - driver before deadly crash

Published May 29, 2015

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London -

Driving at 142mph, 18-year-old road menace Addil Haroon could not resist taking a photo of his speedometer to boast to his friends.

After hurtling along at twice the motorway speed limit, the teenager - who hadn’t even passed his driving test - then posted the picture on social media site Snapchat and typed: “Leeds to Rochdale in 11 minutes. Catch me.”

The next day he jumped a red light at almost three times the speed limit and ploughed into another car, killing the driver.

Joseph Brown-Lartey, 24, a marketing officer, driving through the green light, was killed instantly when his car was cut in half.

On Thursday Haroon, now 19, of Rochdale, was jailed for six years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Sergeant Paul Higgins of Greater Manchester Police said: “Many of the experienced traffic officers first on the scene described the collision scene as the worst they’ve witnessed and it will stay with them throughout their time in the force.”

He added: “Haroon’s irresponsible actions have devastated a family. He was uninsured, unlicensed and driving dangerously but he paid no heed.”

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the tragedy occurred in November last year after Haroon got behind the wheel of a £22,000 Audi A6, hired on his behalf by a friend because he held only a provisional licence.

Another friend, Muhammed Yasin, received social media and text messages from Haroon boasting about how fast the car would go. Lisa Boocock, prosecuting, said as the pair later drove down the M62: “He took a photo of the dashboard... whilst driving with one hand on the steering wheel.”

The next day Haroon met two friends in Manchester city centre, who were driving a Lexus and a Mercedes, and set off in convoy to Rochdale “behaving very irresponsibly showing off their cars”.

Haroon and the Lexus driver headed to Halifax.

Moments before the impact his Audi was seen hurtling at 80mph in a 30mph zone.

Just 120 metres up the road in Rochdale, he ran through a red light, ploughing into Mr Brown-Lartey’s Audi A5.

Haroon, who suffered only minor injuries in the crash, later sent messages to his girlfriend saying: “I won’t even be going to proper prison?…?because I am 18. If all goes well it will only be one year.”

Mr Brown-Lartey’s girlfriend Amelia Drogan said of the victim: “He meant the world to me. He was a lovely, gentle and generous boy and my life will never be the same again.”

Daily Mail

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