Jailed: 4x4 driver who killed man in horror 143mph tunnel smash

A motorist struck a car in front at a “staggering” 143mph to send it spinning into a tunnel wall, killing its driver.

Ashraf Salem, 24, ploughed into security worker Osama Sayam’s Audi A2 on the A12, prompting a judge to say it was “far and away the fastest speed” he has encountered in such a case.

Mr Sayam, 28, died as wreckage was strewn over 100 yards near the Green Man tunnel in Leytonstone, where the limit drops to 40mph.

Police today released CCTV footage of Salem losing control of the blue 4x4 in a tunnel, using the eastbound carriageway as a “race track” on September 6, 2018. Two of Mr Sayam’s passengers were injured and have still not recovered.

Osama Sayam

Salem, of Leyton, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was jailed for eight years and three months and banned from driving for six years at the Old Bailey last Friday.

Fatal impact: Ashraf Salem was driving at 143mph when his blue 4x4 hit Osama Sayam’s Audi

It emerged that when Salem was 12, he was the passenger in a road crash that killed his father.

Judge Richard Marks QC said: “About a mile before the collision you undertook a vehicle at a speed in excess of 100mph. Five seconds before the collision you were staggeringly going at 143mph. That is far and away the fastest speed I have encountered in a case of death by dangerous driving.”

In a statement, Mr Sayam’s sister Izzy said today: “Our beloved Ozzy was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend who was always smiling and put the needs of others before his own.

“Although he is no longer with us in person, he has left us with everlasting beautiful memories and will forever be in our thoughts and heart.

Detective Sergeant Edward Coleman said: “This is a heart-breaking tale, where a young man has lost his life due to the selfish and utterly reckless actions of another road user.

“The speed which Salem was travelling was quite frankly horrifying and he should be ashamed of himself. There can be no doubt that Salem’s speed killed Mr Sayam. I can only hope that this case serves as a stark warning to other road users that speed is lethal.”

Siwan Hayward, director of compliance and policing at TfL, added: “Our roads are not a race track and Salem’s utterly unacceptable behaviour shows the devastating consequences of dangerous driving. Our thoughts are with Mr Sayam’s family and we urge everyone using our roads to obey the speed limit and drive carefully — it could be the difference between life and death.”