Reckless Driver Sentenced for Fatal Hit-and-Run in Eastbourne
Sharon Abraham, 27, has been slammed with a six-year prison sentence after a deadly hit-and-run on Upperton Road, Eastbourne. Just hours after passing his UK driving test—despite holding a foreign license for nine years—Abraham sped through a 30mph zone and fatally struck 75-year-old pedestrian Andrew Forrest on a zebra crossing.
Fatal Crash Caught in Rain and Dusk
The crash happened around 7:45 PM on July 26 last year, amid rainy weather and fading daylight. Witnesses said one car had stopped to let Mr Forrest cross safely, but Abraham, driving a Lexus at between 45mph and 52mph, ignored the crossing and hit him.
Hit-and-Run and Cover-Up
Abraham fled the scene without helping or reporting the accident. He then hid his damaged car behind his property and bought a cover the next day to conceal the wreckage. Police tracked him down 16 hours later, thanks to CCTV footage from the Serious Collision Investigation and Roads Policing units.
Guilty Plea Fails to Excuse Speeding and Evasion
At Lewes Crown Court, Abraham admitted causing death by dangerous driving but denied speeding. However, phone records revealed he Googled “hit and run collision UK law” before trying to delete his history.
“You were driving at a speed highly inappropriate for road and weather conditions,” Judge Christine Laing KC declared. “You stopped only momentarily before fleeing. It must have been obvious there were terrible injuries, yet your thoughts were only of yourself and your car.”
Along with his prison term, Abraham is banned from driving for eight years and must pass an extended re-test before getting behind the wheel again. His sentence was reduced from nine years due to an early guilty plea.
Road Safety Warning
This tragic case is a stark reminder: drivers must obey speed limits and stay alert, especially in poor weather and near pedestrian crossings. Reckless speed and selfish actions behind the wheel can cost lives.
