A taxi driver who fell asleep at the wheel after driving for around 53 hours in three days has been jailed for six years for causing the death of a man who had stopped in a lay-by to take a break.
Surrey Police released footage of the moments leading up to the fatal collision today, showing 45-year-old Kolawole Erunkulu struggling with extreme tiredness while driving his Audi.
The collision happened shortly before 6.30am on Sunday, 17 August 2025 on the A23 at Merstham in Surrey.
Philip Dray, 59, had safely parked his Volkswagen in a lay-by to take a break from driving.
He was opening the driver’s door to get back into his vehicle when Erunkulu’s Audi crossed completely over the white lines separating the carriageway from the lay-by and struck him.
Mr Dray died at the scene.
Investigators subsequently examined footage recorded inside Erunkulu’s vehicle alongside data obtained from his employers.
The evidence showed that he had been driving for around 53 hours during the three days leading up to the collision.
Police said his longest period of rest between drives had been just seven hours, three days before the crash.
Other breaks included one lasting approximately four hours and two of around two hours.
Immediately before the fatal collision, Erunkulu had been working as a taxi driver for approximately 12 hours with only minor breaks.
Footage from his interior vehicle camera showed him experiencing what police described as a “microsleep” – a very brief period of sleep lasting seconds during which the brain stops processing information.
During one of those episodes, the Audi drifted across the carriageway and into the lay-by where Mr Dray was standing.
For taxi and private hire operators looking to manage bookings, drivers and customer enquiries through one system, DM Taxi Assistant provides an affordable booking and dispatch platform designed for the trade.
After the collision, Erunkulu continued driving for approximately another 10 seconds before stopping in the next lay-by.
He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in March 2026 and pleaded guilty when he appeared in court in June.
At Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 August, Erunkulu was sentenced to six years in prison.
The court was told that had he been convicted following a trial rather than entering a guilty plea, his sentence would have been nine years.
He was also disqualified from driving for eight years, with the ban running concurrently with his prison sentence.
If he eventually applies to regain his driving licence, he will be required to pass an extended driving test.
Her Honour Judge Lees said the footage demonstrated that Erunkulu was extremely tired and had continued driving despite the level of fatigue he was experiencing.
The judge also highlighted the fact that he was driving commercially, noting that although he did not have a passenger at the time of the collision, he could have been carrying one.
Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin of Surrey Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said the case demonstrated the serious dangers created by driving while fatigued.
Police said Erunkulu had accumulated a significant sleep debt through long working hours and insufficient rest.
Fatigue can substantially reduce a driver’s ability to remain alert and react safely, with the risk particularly high during the early hours of the morning when the body’s natural drive to sleep is strongest.
The circumstances are particularly poignant because Mr Dray had stopped specifically to take a break from driving before he was killed.
His family described him as a dependable, gentle and caring man who had spent his own working life as a careful and conscientious driver.
Mr Dray’s family agreed to the release of the footage showing Erunkulu falling asleep at the wheel in the hope that it would highlight the dangers of continuing to drive while excessively tired.
Surrey Police has urged motorists who feel tired to stop driving and take appropriate rest, warning that the consequences of fatigue behind the wheel can be devastating.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, a story tip, or anything you’d like to share, head over to DriverMatty.com — I love to hear from you. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
Sources
Surrey Police – Man Jailed After Falling Asleep at the Wheel and Causing Fatal Collision
ITV News Meridian – Man Who Drove for 12 Hours Before Causing Fatal A23 Collision Jailed
