IN THE NEWS
SURGEON AVOIDS JAIL AFTER HEAD ON DRINK DRIVE SMASH LEAVES CABBIE SERIOUSLY INJURED
A trainee consultant surgeon who was double the drink-drive limit has narrowly avoided immediate custody after causing a head-on collision in November 24, 2024 Nayer Youakim, 37, left a taxi driver with a fractured shoulder, broken arm, and suspected cracked ribs following the crash on Beach Road in North Shields. When questioned by police at the scene, Youakim claimed he had consumed “not too much, two pints.” The court heard that the cabbie had just dropped off a fare when he was suddenly “dazed by head-
lights coming towards him before being crashed into.” The force of the impact spun the taxi into the opposite lane, while Youakim’s vehicle mounted the pavement. The victim, who faced a long recovery, noted: “I feel very lucky to be alive.” Youakim provided a breath sample of 72mcg per 100ml - significantly over the 35mcg legal limit. But, despite admitting to
causing
serious injury by dangerous driving and drink driving, his legal team described the event as an “extraordinary lapse of judgement”
and an “isolated incident.” Recorder Mark McKone KC opted to suspend Youakim’s 18-month prison sentence for two years, citing the doctor’s “important work” and the potential harm a prison sentence would have on future patients. He added: “Your status as a doctor is uncertain and your training as a consultant would end if you were sent to prison.” In addition to the suspended sentence, Youakim must complete 250 hours of unpaid work and has been banned from driving for two years.
HGV DRIVER JAILED FOR 10 YEARS AFTER M62 HORROR TAXI CRASH KILLED TWO RYANAIR PILOTS
A lorry driver has been sentenced to ten years in prison after his HGV crushed a PHV on the M62, instantly killing two young pilots being driven between airports. Anthony Burns, 63, was travelling at approximately 56mph on July 11, 2024, when he failed to notice stationary traffic near Warrington. The court heard that Burns only applied his brakes one second before slamming into the back of a Toyota Auris PHV,
pinning it
against another HGV. The victims, Captain Matthew Greenhalgh, 28, and First Officer Jamie Fernandes, 24, were travelling from Luton Airport to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and had “slept for the majority of the journey,” until the moment of impact at 5:30 am. The force of the collision was so severe that emergency responders
36
initially strug- gled to identify the wreckage. Prosecutor
Damian Nolan told Liverpool Crown Court that PC Owens, the first officer on the scene, “initially did not recognise the taxi as a separate vehicle due to the damage sustained.” In a survival described as “remark- able,” the PHV driver, Rashid Mehmood, was found alive within the crushed metal. “PC Owens could hear a voice shouting for help, but at first he could not see anyone, before a hand appeared from the wreck- age,” Mr. Nolan told the court. While Mr. Mehmood suffered broken bones and a fractured shoulder, the two pilots sustained
“catastrophic injuries” and died at the scene. Investigations revealed that warning signs above
the
motorway had reduced the speed to 40mph due to a lane closure. Despite this, Burns maintained his speed until the final second. The prosecution noted the lack of any clear reason for the lapse in attention but tests confirmed that there was no alcohol or drugs in Burns’ system or evidence he was using a phone or mobile device. Vehicle defects did not contribute to the crash. Burns, from Upton, Wirral, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death and one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. In addition to his 10-year prison sentence, he has been banned from driving for 150 months and must take an extended re-test.
FEBRUARY 2026 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
