Two men have been sentenced to a total of 24 years and five months in prison for their involvement in a fatal road crash that killed UK-based Nigerian, Sylvester Abayomi, in Manchester.
Uways Hussain, 20, and Usmon Mahmood, 23, received their sentences after being found guilty of causing the March 2026 collision on Kingsway, Manchester, which resulted in Abayomi’s death.
According to a statement from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) released on Monday, Hussain was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months, while Mahmood was sentenced to 12 years and 9 months. Notably, Mahmood’s conviction is among the first in the UK where a passenger was found guilty of aiding and abetting death by dangerous driving.
GMP investigations revealed that the two men had spent the night before the crash driving recklessly around South Manchester, recording themselves speeding at over 100mph on roads with 30mph limits. The vehicle belonged to Mahmood, who allowed Hussain to drive it throughout the night. Police recovered mobile phone footage showing the pair repeatedly running red lights and weaving through traffic without regard for other road users’ safety.
The statement noted, “The sentences follow a night of dangerous driving, during which the pair filmed themselves consistently travelling at speeds of over 100mph on 30mph roads.” At times, their speed exceeded 130mph, and seconds before the crash, they were recorded at 139mph. At one point, while at a petrol station, Mahmood was seen inhaling from a balloon in the passenger seat; later footage showed both men inhaling from balloons while speeding.
The fatal collision occurred at about 4:36 am at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway. Abayomi, on his way to work, entered the junction on a green light when he was struck by the Volkswagen Golf driven by Hussain, who had run a red light at extreme speed. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Abayomi succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
In the aftermath of the crash, an automatic crash alert triggered by Hussain’s Apple Watch captured the men discussing plans to flee and destroy evidence, including reporting the car as stolen. They then booked an Uber to leave the scene. GMP officers responded within 12 minutes of the first emergency call and arrested both suspects.
Vehicle data later confirmed that the Volkswagen Golf had reached 139mph just moments before the fatal impact, GMP said.
