Man jailed for hit and run that left history teacher, 75, dying in the road
A retired college lecturer was hit by a speeding car on a zebra crossing and left dying in the road, a court has heard.
Andrew Forrest, 75, suffered catastrophic injuries when he was hit by a speeding black Lexus being driven by Sharon Abraham, 27, as he crossed a road in Eastbourne on July 26 last year.
Mr Forrest, who used to be head of history at Woking College, was thrown into the air by the impact and landed in the road.
Instead of stopping at the scene, the driver sped off leaving Mr Forrest dying in the road.
Mr Forrest had taught history at the sixth form college in Surrey for 30 years.
As a leading chorister, he had sung in front of the Queen and Princess Margaret and was described by his family as an accomplished artist, musician and author.
In retirement, he played rock and blues in the Southern Spirit band as a guitarist and lead singer.
Lewes Crown Court heard Mr Forrest was on his way home at around 5.45pm and had just got off a bus and headed to the zebra crossing.
The conditions were overcast and the road was rainsoaked.
Seeing Mr Forrest waiting to cross, two cars on the northbound carriageway of Upperton Road had stopped.
As he started to cross, the black Lexus being driven by Abraham came into view.
Ryan Richter, prosecuting, told the court the car was travelling at between 45mph and 52mph in a 30mph zone on the southbound carriageway.
He said Mr Forrest spotted the Lexus and desperately tried to hurry across the road but was struck by the car and thrown into the air.
He suffered head, chest and spinal injuries in the collision and was later pronounced dead.
Mr Richter said: “The vehicle came to stop for a few seconds - it was stationary for less than 30 seconds - then drove off in the direction of Eastbourne.”
The court heard Abraham went back to his apartment but did not call police or report the accident.
Instead, he went to a shop the following morning and bought a car cover to stop the rain getting in through the shattered windscreen and damaged roof and bonnet caused by the impact.
Using CCTV police managed to trace Abraham and he was arrested the following morning.
In court, friends and family described Mr Forrest’s death “a terrible, terrible tragedy” and branded Abraham as a “coward”.
His cousin, Michael Amos, said: “His death was caused by a driver who not only killed him but didn’t have the decency to stop. Not stopping was a cowardly act motivated by self-interest.”
In a statement, his family said: “We are truly devastated by Andy’s sudden death in such terrible and dramatic circumstances.
“He was an accomplished artist, musician and published author with a wide circle of friends in the Eastbourne community.
“He was much-loved by all his family and friends. Always kind, always smiling and always grateful - he was a true gent. He will be greatly missed by us all.”
The court heard Mr Forrest had a wide circle of friends and around 300 people had attended his funeral.
Simon Hunka, mitigating, said Abraham had moved from India to the UK to study and had completed an MA in cyber security at Hertfordshire University.
He said the student was hugely “remorseful” and had visited a priest to seek guidance.
Judge Christine Laing KC told the defendant: “Mr Forrest was clearly an extraordinary individual. At age of 75 he had full, active and meaningful life.
“He was killed by you for two reasons: you were driving in highly inappropriate for the conditions and secondly you drove with lack of attention for a substantial period of time.
“It was only in the very last second or two you saw him but he did not stand a chance and was struck with full force by your vehicle.
“There can be no explanation for you not seeing him, other that you were not looking or paying attention at the time.”
Abraham, 27, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
He also admitted failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to later report it.
He was also banned from driving for eight years and will have to face an extended test before he is permitted to drive again.
