Wife of epileptic driver victim calls for law changes
NC Tragic Stuart Sahu, 42, with his son Hyatt, left
Devoted father-of-two Stuart Sahu, 42, who was waiting at a red light, was hurled nearly 100ft when his Kawasaki motorcycle was struck by Ponnampalam Manisegaran’s car. Manisegaran, who was jailed for four years and banned from driving for 10 years last week, had a fit at the wheel of his BMW in Ilford, east London, in November 2016, smashing into Mr Sahu and two other vehicles at 46mph. The Old Bailey was told that Manisegaran had been urged repeatedly not to drive after being admitted to hospital with seizures in July 2010 and later formally diagnosed with epilepsy. But he did not inform the DVLA. Arrested at the scene, Manisegaran told police he “often blacked out” and had suffered his last seizure just a few weeks before.
My husband’s death could have been prevented Nilima Sahu
Mr Sahu’s wife Nilima, 42, left to bring up the couple’s sons Hyatt, 11, and Noah, seven, said: “This guy knew about his condition since 2010 but at no point did he report it to the DVLA despite there being ample opportunity. “He dropped his child off at a bus stop before the accident so he was also putting his own children at risk simply because he didn’t want the inconvenience of not being able to drive. “My husband’s death could have been prevented. While I am pleased with the four-year sentence it’s never going to bring Stuart back. My boys are never going to see their father again. “They are completely traumatised. My youngest cries himself to sleep every night. My eldest, who was very close to Stuart, a real daddy’s boy, cannot speak about his father. He cannot come to terms with it at all.
NC Mr with sons Hyatt (L) and Noah (R)
“Stuart was an exceptional father, husband and son and losing him has made the world a poorer place. But if something positive is to come from his death it is that no other family has to go what we are going through. “This law change would mean that Stuart hasn’t died in vain.” Mrs Sahu said she received a letter of apology from Manisegaran after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving, but refused to read it. “The apology is too little too late,” she said. “I’m still reliving that day. It’s traumatised me to my core.”