Taxi Driver Jailed for Six Years Over Fatal A23 Microsleep Crash

A 45-year-old taxi driver has been jailed for six years after falling asleep at the wheel and causing the death of a man described by his family as a sweet, gentle and caring partner.

Kolawole Erunkulu, of Bexleyheath, appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday 25 August for sentencing after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

The defendant, born 2 October 1980 and holding joint Nigerian and British nationality, was also disqualified from driving for eight years and will be required to pass an extended retest before holding a licence again.

The court heard that the fatal collision occurred shortly before 6:30am on Sunday 17 August 2025 on the A23 in Merstham.

Read more: Grime star Ghetts jailed for 12 years over deadly 60mph hit-and-run

59-year-old victim Philip Dray had pulled over safely into a layby to take a break and was opening his Volkswagen's driver door to re-enter his vehicle when he was struck by Erunkulu’s Audi.

CCTV footage showed the nearside wheels of the Audi cross completely over the white lines into the layby before correcting course after the impact. Mr Dray sustained fatal injuries and tragically died at the scene.

Detectives examined interior camera footage from Erunkulu's vehicle alongside data provided by his employers, revealing that he had been driving for approximately 53 hours across the three days leading up to the crash.

His longest rest period in that timeframe was just seven hours taken three days prior, with other rest breaks consisting of one four-hour gap and two two-hour breaks.

Read more: Derby Rapist Jailed for 16 Years After Campaign of Sexual Abuse & Violent Assaults Against Two Women

In the period immediately preceding the fatal collision, Erunkulu had been working for roughly 12 hours with only minor breaks.

Interior camera footage captured Erunkulu suffering a microsleep—a brief episode of involuntary sleep lasting seconds—during which his vehicle veered across the carriageway and struck Mr Dray.

The footage showed the Audi continuing for another 10 seconds after the impact before coming to a stop at the next layby.

Following an investigation by the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, Erunkulu was charged in March 2026 and entered a guilty plea in June.

Read more: Latvian Extradited & Remanded in Custody Over Fatal Hit-and-Run Death of Coventry Schoolboy Keaton Slater

In her sentencing remarks Her Honour Judge Lees stated that the footage demonstrated the defendant was extremely tired and continued to drive commercially when he must have known his condition, noting that the tragedy could have been prevented had he slept.

Judge Lees confirmed that had Erunkulu chosen to go to trial and been convicted, he would have received a nine-year custodial sentence.

Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin highlighted the severe dangers of driving while fatigued, warning that accumulating a sleep debt seriously impairs alertness and reaction times, particularly during early morning hours.

Paying tribute to Mr Dray, his family and partner described him as a dependable, careful and conscientious driver who cared deeply about others.

His sister noted the tragic irony that a man who worked daily to keep others safe on the roads had his life taken by a fatigued driver.

His partner expressed the immense void left by his loss, describing him as her soulmate and best friend.

With the agreement of Mr Dray’s family, police released the interior vehicle footage to raise public awareness regarding the catastrophic risks of driving while exhausted.