A court has heard the tragic moment two drivers allegedly encouraged each other to race through Leeds traffic, revving their engines at a set of lights before one of them lost control and mounted the pavement, killing a mother and her four-year-old daughter.
Justyna Hulboj, 27, and her daughter Lena Czepczor were walking along Scott Hall Road at around 8.30am in June 2023 when they were struck by a white Audi TT.
Lena, just four years old, was on her way to nursery with her mother when the car careered onto the pavement.
The Audi driver, Hardeep Bachu, has already pleaded guilty to causing the deaths by dangerous driving.
Meanwhile, Jasskamal Riyat, 37, is standing trial at Leeds Crown Court after denying the same offences.
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Drivers allegedly egged each other on
Jurors were shown footage that prosecutors say captured the two men driving aggressively during the morning rush hour.
The prosecution alleges Bachu and Riyat, who were not known to each other, began driving competitively, with Riyat pulling his BMW 1 Series alongside Bachu’s Audi TT at traffic lights.
The footage reportedly shows the two cars travelling alongside one another, with their engines being loudly revved.
Dashcam footage from Bachu’s Audi also captured the drivers speaking to one another through their open windows, including a conversation about the cars’ horsepower.
Another video, recorded on Riyat’s mobile phone, showed the Audi travelling ahead of his BMW.
Riyat could allegedly be heard saying, “Watch this guy now,” before laughing as Bachu accelerated away.
The compilation shown to the jury also included footage from Bachu’s Audi in the final moments before the fatal collision, with the sound of the engine becoming increasingly loud as the vehicle appeared to travel at speed.
Audi mounted the pavement
Prosecutor Carmel Pearson told the court that the pair had been “egging each other on” as they drove through the city.
Their driving was described by the prosecution as “competitive” and “aggressive”.
Witnesses allegedly saw the two vehicles weaving between traffic as they reached high speeds on a road with a 40mph limit.
Although the speed of Riyat’s BMW was not recorded, jurors heard that he was “right behind” Bachu shortly before the crash.
Bachu’s speed was measured at 89mph when the Audi was around 60 metres from the eventual collision point, the court heard.
At approximately 8.30am, Justyna and Lena were walking along the pavement on Scott Hall Road when the Audi hit a kerb.
The car then lost control, mounted the pavement and struck the mother and her young daughter.
Both died as a result of the collision.
Riyat allegedly left without stopping
The court heard that Riyat continued filming the wrecked Audi as he drove past the crash.
He then left the scene and went to work, jurors were told.
The prosecution argues that Riyat cannot avoid responsibility simply because his own vehicle did not crash.
Ms Pearson told the jury that both drivers had been travelling dangerously and at speeds significantly higher than other road users.
She said they had been weaving between traffic while driving close to each other and other vehicles.
“Neither driver showed regard to other road users and those more vulnerable – pedestrians,” she said.
“They were racing and competitive.”
The prosecutor argued that the deaths were not simply an unforeseeable accident.
“This was not just an unspeakable tragedy, but an entirely foreseeable event,” she told the court.
Trial continues
Riyat has denied causing death by dangerous driving and remains on trial at Leeds Crown Court.
The evidence being presented includes dashcam recordings, mobile-phone footage and testimony from witnesses who saw the two vehicles before the crash.
The trial is continuing.
