On November 14, 2022, a Deliveroo driver, Mustafa Sayed, 55, was involved in a tragic incident that resulted in the death of an elderly man, Sadrudin Noormaohamed Adatia, aged 86, who was crossing the road with a walking aid.

As Sayed approached the junction of School Lane and Parrs Wood Road in Didsbury, the traffic lights changed from red to green. Despite the pedestrian signal indicating not to cross, Mr. Adatia began to cross slowly. Sayed turned right onto Parrs Wood Road and struck Mr. Adatia, causing him to be thrown into the air.

Adatia was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries the following morning.

During the two-day trial, Sayed denied causing death by driving without due care and attention. However, jurors unanimously found him guilty of the charge.

The prosecution highlighted that the junction was governed by a 30mph speed limit and controlled by traffic lights. Prosecutor Stephen Littlewood stated that Mr. Adatia was crossing the road when Sayed turned right, having failed to adequately check for pedestrians.

Witnesses and CCTV footage revealed that Sayed only braked after the collision occurred. Despite remaining at the scene to assist, Mr. Adatia unfortunately passed away shortly after being taken to the hospital.

Sayed was later arrested but chose not to answer police questions. Mr. Littlewood emphasized that drivers are required to drive with caution and should prioritize the safety of pedestrians.

In his testimony, Sayed claimed he did not see Mr. Adatia until just before the impact, stating that he braked as hard as he could when he noticed him. During cross-examination, he expressed confusion over how he failed to see Mr. Adatia sooner.

After two hours of deliberation, the jury found Sayed guilty of causing death by driving without due care and attention. Sentencing is scheduled for January 17, 2025.