Family 'forever haunted' by 83mph crash death

An uninsured drunk driver who struck and killed a 79-year-old husband and father as he crossed a road was travelling at more than 80mph on a 30mph road, a court heard.

Arjun Nijjar, 23, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and being under the influence of alcohol after the fatal crash on Thornhill Road, Streetly, in Sutton Coldfield in August 2025.

Douglas Draper's son said: "You always hope that anyone you love dies peacefully, but this was not the case for my dad, and I will forever be haunted by this."

Nijjar, of Sharrat Field in the town, was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

CCTV footage showed the Mercedes driven by Nijjar accelerate before it fatally struck the pedestrian, who had been out shopping, on 16 August, police said.

"I pray that nobody has to receive the call I did that evening. Mom lost her husband of 46 years that day," said Draper's son.

"Dad was mom's carer after her years of ill health and mobility issues. He loved walking not only to run errands for themselves but to keep himself fit after surviving prostate cancer.

"My dad was her everything," he added.

"The memories still trick and taunt us both," he added. "She's betrayed by the hope he'll just walk-in through the door".

"If it wasn't for the carelessness and irresponsibility of the driver, my dad would be home."

The court heard that Nijjar had stayed at the scene following the crash and lied to members of the public that he had been driving at the 30mph speed limit.

West Midlands Police said detectives found the 23-yar-old had been driving at approximately 83mph.

"He was over the drink-drive limit and driving at speed in a high-powered car that he was not insured to be driving," said Det Sgt Richard Evans of the force.

"He had no regard for other road users, and his selfish driving led to this tragic loss," he added.

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