A Luton driver was jailed for four years on Friday, April 23, 2021, after killing a respected member of the Sikh community when he lost control of his blue BMW.
Hassan Javid, 23, struck Gurdial Dhalliwal on a footpath along the A505 Dunstable Road, near the junction with Derby Road at around twenty past two in the afternoon of Monday October 29, 2018.
Mr Dhalliwal, who was 74, from Wellgate Road, Luton died a short time later in hospital. Javid fled the scene on foot.
Javid, of Hayhurst Road, Luton, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death while uninsured. He was disqualified from driving for seven years and must take an extended retest.
Co-defendant Aneid Saghir, 31, of Landsdown Road, Luton was jailed for 10 months for perverting the course of justice, after claiming the BMW was stolen.
At the time of his death, Mr Dhalliwal’s family said: “Our Dad was a 74-year-old father, grandfather and a loving husband. We are all devastated and totally heartbroken as a family. Our world has fallen apart, and has been changed forever. A light has gone out for us and for the community, he was our rock.
“Thank you to the kind Samaritans that tried to help, and comforted him. We didn’t make it in time to say goodbye, but at least we were all together at the time to identify him.
“Our Dad lived in Luton for more than 55 years, he loved this town. He was well known and loved in the Sikh community and also the wider community.
“He worked very hard all his life, at one point working three jobs in order to support his family.
“He retired nine years ago, and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren; going for walks, going to the park to feed the ducks, spending quality time with his family and travelling on the buses. Dad was born in Punjab India, where his love for farming continued into his love for gardening.
“We just don’t know how we are ever going to cope without him. We thought we had years to enjoy his laughter and love, he always looked after himself in respect to his health.
“What a waste of such a wonderful life, to end like that, is such an unnecessary act, and for us to have to cross the path where this tragedy happened will haunt us for as long as we live.
“We will miss him immensely.”
