Drunk driver, 24, who crashed into a rickshaw and killed a woman, 31, who was celebrating her birthday is jailed for more than nine years
- Luis Balcazar Soto, 24, earlier pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death
- He was sentenced to nine years and nine months at Southwark Crown Court
- Sophie Strickland, 31, was pronounced dead the scene at 4.30am on July 10
A drunk driver who killed a woman when he careered into her rickshaw while she was out celebrating her birthday with friends has been jailed for nearly 10 years.
Luis Balcazar Soto, 24, was driving up to 56mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Sophie Strickland’s pedicab in a bus lane in New Kent Road, Southwark, on July 10 this year.
Ms Strickland, 31, of Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.30am after suffering significant head and neck injuries.
Soto, of Southwark, was today sentenced to a total of nine years and nine months for causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving.
Soto, who had previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol as well as driving while uninsured and disqualified, has also been banned from the road for 10 years and nine months.
He had been in breach of a previous suspended sentence and a restraining order at the time of the July 10 incident.
The court heard how rickshaw driver Tanzir Ahmed was taken to King’s College Hospital with fractures to his skull head, right arm and leg. He has subsequently developed a blood clot in his lung.
Luis Balcazar Soto, 24, was driving up to 56mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Sophie Strickland’s pedicab in a bus lane in New Kent Road, Southwark, on July 10 this year (Pictured: Ms Strickland)
Luis Balcazar Soto, 24, crashed his Kia Carens (pictured immediately after the crash) into the rickshaw
Soto ran off after the incident and was chased and stopped by witnesses.
Prosecutor Fiona Robertson told Southwark Crown Court how witnesses saw ‘a silver car travelling 60mph swerve into bollards and land by the Tesco Express on New Kent Road.
She said: ‘It collided with the rickshaw and spun around. There was no evidence of braking or evasive action prior to impact.’
A taxi driver had described seeing Soto accelerate harshly at the roundabout by Elephant and Castle at 3:47am and commented: ‘Oh my God, I’ve got this mentalist in front of me driving like a mad man.’
Police investigators estimated Soto to be travelling between 45 and 56mph when he hit the rickshaw.
‘Ms Strickland was catastrophically injured and the defendant was aware of it,’ said the prosecutor.
‘He made no effort or attempt to assist Ms Strickland or Mr Ahmed. It is significantly telling that people had to chase after him to stop them escaping.’
When approached by members of the public, Soto said: ‘Let me go or I’ll fist you up,’ and tried to punch a witness.
Soto even offered money to a member of the public as he begged for them to let him go. He was twice the legal limit of alcohol.
‘He was sweating and his eyes were bloodshot,’ the prosecutor said.
When told of Ms Strickland he became hysterical saying: ‘I can’t believe I killed her’ and ‘I’m so sorry.’
Sophie’s mother Glynis said in an impact statement she had lost ‘the most beautiful thing in my life.’
Ms Strickland said: ‘Never seeing her again is killing me. As a mother I cannot imagine any greater pain in my life. She was a kind and loyal person and in seconds my life was destroyed.’
Police investigators estimated Soto to be travelling between 45 and 56mph when he hit the rickshaw. ‘Ms Strickland was catastrophically injured and the defendant was aware of it,’ said the prosecutor (Pictured: Tragic Ms Strickland)
Sophie’s three brothers also provided impact statements to the court about their sister, who worked as a material and resource planner at PCI Pharma Services.
David Strickland told the court that ‘the impact of Sophie’s sudden and ultimately avoidable death has left us numb.’
He added: ‘The fact that we have to live with the impact of this reckless, selfish and mindless act fills us all with dread.
‘We need to face up to the fact that we will never see her again. Never laugh with her, joke with her.
‘She was a beautiful, caring and thoughtful young lady.’
Jade Redford, a friend of Sophie who was with her when she died, said the memory will haunt her for the rest of her life.
She said: ‘I remember praying that the ambulance would arrive, but it was too late. I remember stroking her hair and telling her how much she was loved.’
Another friend Lucy Smith described having anxiety walking down the street in fear of passing cars.
Ms Strickland was pronounced dead at the scene while Mr Ahmed was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm. A second passenger had stepped out of the cab to withdraw some cash moments before the tragedy
Attempting to explain Soto’s actions that night, Ms Robertson said: ‘There must have been some form of distraction that meant he wasn’t looking ahead of him.
‘The fact that he was occupying the bus lane demonstrated that he had no proper regard for vulnerable road users.
‘He took a deliberate decision to ignore, or [had a] flagrant disregard for, the rules.’
Judge Deborah Taylor said: ‘Ms Strickland was catastrophically injured. Mr Ahmed was thrown further down the road and he was seriously injured.
‘You made no attempt to assist those who were injured and were only looking out for yourself. You were talking about leaving the scene.
‘I have heard the very moving victim impact statements from family and friends of Ms Strickland. They all express the intense pain and deep loss caused by your dangerous driving.
‘Sophie Strickland was a much loved young woman, 31 years of age in the prime of her life. She came to London to celebrate a birthday and due to your selfish actions she never returned to her family.
‘In my judgement, the overall picture was clear to you and you tried to run away because you knew how serious the offences were and what you had done.’
Charges of causing death by dangerous driving while unlicensed and uninsured, which Soto denied, were ordered to lie on the court file.
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