Driver jailed for causing father-of-two's death

A dangerous driver who killed another motorist and seriously injured three members of his own family has been jailed for 10 years.

Sahil Nagpal crashed head on with a car being driven by father-of-two Paul Brand when he performed a "dangerous overtaking manoeuvre" on the A171 between Whitby and Teesside on 8 October 2023, police said.

The 30-year-old, from Wardley in Gateshead, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a four-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Mr Brand's family said they could "finally stop and think about starting to properly grieve" following Tuesday's sentencing.

In a statement, they said the past two years seeking justice had been "the most horrific" as the case went through the court system.

They said they had had to hear all the details of the crash during a trial, "while Sahil Nagpal watched our pain and continued to plead not guilty".

"We will continue to keep our dad alive by never letting him be forgotten by anyone, and he will also be remembered by his grandson who never got to meet his grandad."

The court heard Nagpal was driving his Hyundai i40 on a rural stretch of the road at about 19:00 GMT when he overtook another driver, despite solid white lines along the centre of the road, a warning sign stating there was a hidden dip, and a "slow" warning marker on the road.

Jurors were also told Nagpal's vehicle was fully on the wrong side of the road when it crashed into Mr Brand's vehicle.

Gemma Brett from North Yorkshire Police's major collision investigation unit said Nagpal denied the offences "in the face of overwhelming evidence of his dangerous driving, forcing Mr Brand's family to re-live the trauma of this devastating incident".

"So many lives were affected by Nagpal's actions on that day, and it is right that he now faces the consequences."

Nagpal, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 10 years for causing death by dangerous driving and banned from driving for six years.

He was sentenced to a total of seven years for three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, to be served concurrently.

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