140mph killer driver jailed for 12 years over fatal crash

A convicted dangerous driver with a history of reckless offences has finally been brought to justice after a deadly 140mph impact left a young woman dead at the scene.

A dangerous driver who killed a young woman in a catastrophic high-speed collision on Christmas Day has been jailed for twelve years after a judge condemned his “shameful” lack of cooperation in the investigation that followed.

Evan Forde, 32, from Bedford, was behind the wheel of a powerful vehicle that reached speeds of up to 140mph before ploughing into the rear of a BMW on the A41 Hendon Way in Brent Cross, North London, at around 3:45am on 25 December 2022.

The impact killed 22-year-old Maria Carolina Do Nascimento, who was a passenger in the BMW. Despite desperate attempts by emergency responders, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Forde, who had been on bail at the time of the crash for failing to provide a specimen for analysis, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. His sentencing took place at the Old Bailey before Judge Philip Katz KC, who told him he had “done absolutely nothing” to assist in bringing closure to the victim’s grieving family.

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The court heard that Forde gave two separate “no comment” interviews following his arrest, forcing investigators to undertake extensive additional forensic work to establish the full circumstances of the collision.

Judge Katz said the delay meant Ms Do Nascimento’s family had been left waiting nearly three years for justice, describing that wait as “nothing short of shameful”.

Prosecutor Frederick Hookway said CCTV and video recovered from Forde’s phone confirmed he had spent the hours before the crash at a nightclub in Camden. Police officers later spotted his vehicle and indicated for him to stop, but Forde accelerated away.

No pursuit followed. Within sixty seconds, he collided at speed into the stationary BMW carrying Ms Do Nascimento.

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The court was told that Forde had a substantial criminal record, with ten previous convictions for fourteen offences including dangerous driving. His record, the prosecution argued, showed a long-standing disregard for the safety of others on the road.

In mitigation, defence counsel Tasmin Malcolm said her client had shown “true and genuine remorse” for his actions and accepted full responsibility for the death he caused.

Victim impact statements read to the court described Ms Do Nascimento as a warm, kind-hearted young woman whose loss had left her family devastated. Her mother, Clezi Felizari, and stepfather, Clayton Felizari, spoke of the deep pain of losing their daughter so suddenly and said Christmas would forever be marked by the memory of her death.

Forde will serve two-thirds of his twelve-year sentence before being considered for release, and was also disqualified from driving for a further ten years.

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Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.