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A Nigerian-born taxi driver in the UK, Kolawole Erunkulu, has been sentenced to six years in prison after falling asleep at the wheel and fatally attacking a man who had stopped for a break.
Erunkulu, 45, who lives in Bexleyheath, reportedly spent 53 hours driving in the three days before the fatal crash, with the longest break he took just seven hours.
The accident occurred on August 17, 2025, when Erunkulu’s Audi left the road and hit Philip Dray, 59, who was returning to his Volkswagen after stopping in a parking lot.
According to LBC News, footage recorded inside Erunkulu’s vehicle showed that he experienced a microsleep shortly before the collision. His vehicle then veered off the road, struck Dray and continued driving for approximately 10 seconds.
Investigators determined that Erunkulu had been working as a taxi driver for about 12 hours, only taking short breaks, before the fatal collision.
He later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in June 2026.
The court sentenced him to six years in prison and banned him from driving for eight years. He will also have to pass an extended driving test if he wants to get another driver’s license in the future.
Delivering sentence, His Honor Judge Lees said the evidence clearly showed that Erunkulu was extremely tired and should not have remained behind the wheel.
“The footage shows the defendant was very tired and, in my opinion, he continued to drive even though he certainly knew he was driving for commercial purposes,” he said.
The judge added, “Even though he had no passengers, he could have acted and driven in that state. All this could have been stopped if he had slept.”
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Acting Detective Inspector of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, Rob Baldwin, said the tragedy highlighted the potentially deadly consequences of driving while tired.
“This case sadly highlights the very real dangers of driving while tired. Erunkulu had worked long hours without adequate rest over the previous few days, thereby accumulating a sleep debt,” he said.
Baldwin warns that fatigue can greatly affect a driver’s alertness and ability to respond to hazards, especially in the early hours of the morning.
“Fatigue can seriously impair a driver’s ability to remain alert and react safely, especially in the early hours of the morning when the natural urge to sleep is strongest. Anyone who feels tired should not continue driving, as the consequences can be dire.”
Microsleep may only last for a few seconds, but during that brief period, a person’s brain can fail to process information properly or respond to dangers around them.
Meanwhile, Dray’s grieving family paid an emotional tribute to him, describing him as a “wonderful partner and man” who was reliable, caring and had great respect for others.
His sister recalled that he lived a quiet life and never sought public attention.
“He never sought attention and lived his life quietly, but he cared deeply about others and treated people with respect and courtesy. He was a good man,” he said.
He also noted the painful irony surrounding his death, explaining that Dray had spent most of his life as a responsible and safety-conscious driver.
“The fact that he, someone who worked every day to keep others safe, was killed in such a way makes this loss even more incomprehensible and tragic,” he said.
Dray’s colleagues also remembered him as a loving and gentle man who was always ready to provide comfort.
She described him as a “sweet, gentle, caring man” and “the one who was always there to hug me.”
“Phil was my partner and soulmate,” she said, adding that his death had left a “huge emotional and physical void”.
Recalling their daily routine, she said Dray regularly called her whenever he took a break from work just to see how she was doing.
“He called me several times a day whenever he was waiting on a client or at lunch, just to know how my day was going. I really miss those calls,” he said.
