Man GUILTY of careless driving after trying to run red light before crashing into lamppost that killed woman

A driver who was clocked driving at 40mph in a 30mph zone moments before colliding with a lamppost that killed a woman has been found guilty of causing her death by careless driving.

Mohamed Mahamoud, 38, was travelling along Princess Road, in Moss Side, in his Toyota Auris at speeds of 40mph when he came to the junction with Great Western Street on July 29, 2021.

As the lights began to change to amber he was 90 metres away from the junction, but did not slow down. He got to 43 metres from the lights when they changed to red and still failed to slow down.

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At the same time a taxi moved from the middle lane into the left lane and stopped at the lights. Mahamoud then ‘slammed on his brakes’, veering onto the pavement before colliding with the traffic light.

Joan Spence, aged 70, was waiting to cross the road after putting some rubbish in the bin. She was struck by the traffic lights causing catastrophic head injuries and sadly died despite the best efforts of paramedics.

Following a trial at Manchester Crown Court, Mahamoud was convicted of causing death by driving without due care and attention. He was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Jonathan Savage said that Ms Spence, who lived on Princess Road, left her home at around 12.40am to go and put some rubbish bags into a bin nearby. He said she was waiting at the traffic lights at the junction with Princess Road and Great Western Street.

“The defendant was approaching the junction as the lights changed against him and he miscalculated, as he was some 90 metres away from the junction,” the prosecutor said.

“You will hear his speed was 40mph, at that point the road had a 30mph limit. As he approached, the prosecution say, there was evidence the lights were beginning to change.

“He saw them change and his speed maintained at 40mph. When he was 43 metres away from the junction, the lights changed to red.”

Mr Savage said that at ‘virtually the same time’ a vehicle moved from the middle lane over to his lane and stopped at the lights. As the car moved in front of him he ‘slammed’ onto the brakes and then mounted the pavement before colliding with the traffic light, the court heard.

This caused the traffic light to dislodge and ‘strike’ Ms Spence in the head, leaving her with catastrophic head injuries, jurors heard.

“She was killed probably instantly,” Mr Savage added. “The prosecution say his driving fell far below what was expected from a competent driver and was dangerous.”

The court heard that the other vehicle, a Skoda Octavia, was a taxi being driven by 54-year-old Mahad Ciid. He has since pleaded guilty to causing the death of Ms Spencer by driving without due care and attention.

Giving evidence, Mahamoud said he was ‘driving normally’ prior to the collision.

In questioning by his barrister, Richard Brigden, he admitted driving at 40mph and admitted his driving was 'careless'.

Mr Mahamoud said that five seconds before the collision, his lane was ‘clear’. He said he remembered the lights changing before Mr Ciid ‘cut in front of me’.

Mr Brigden asked: “If he hadn’t cut in front of you, what do you think you would have done?”

“I honestly can't say, I was too focussed in that moment,” he replied.

“As he pulled out in front of me I was in shock. I tried to brake as hard as I could and I leaned forward. I went into the back of the taxi. I banged my head. The airbags didn’t go off.

“As I hit him I was knocked out cold. I didn’t know where I was or what happened. I don't know if I blacked out or if I was unconscious. I woke up to a man's voice screaming.”

He claimed he had no memory of what happened after hitting the taxi in a ‘glancing blow’.

“Do you accept that your driving, at least, contributed to the collision?” Mr Savage asked. “I don’t know. I believed I was driving normally,” he replied.

Jurors convicted Mahamoud, of West Grove, Manchester, of causing death by driving without due care and attention. He will be sentenced on October 24.