A speeding driver, Mohammed Irshad, killed a retired nurse in a head-on collision and was sentenced to jail.
Irshad drove a Mercedes and tried to pass another car. He sped into oncoming traffic on St Helens Road, at about twice the speed limit. Karen and Kenneth Kimblin were in a Nissan heading toward Bolton town center. The crash occurred on June 22nd, and the judge called it ‘catastrophic’.
Karen Kimblin was 63, a mother of four with seven grandkids. Her family said she was loving and caring and helped others as a nurse.
Irshad acted callous after police arrested him, questioning if he caused the death. The judge said Irshad downplayed things during probation interviews. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injuries. He got ten and a half years in jail and cannot drive for 12 years.
Irshad was arrested two days before the crash on suspicion of cocaine possession. Police found cocaine and cannabis traces, but the judge said Irshad was not highly impaired. The judge called Irshad’s driving ‘furious,’ noting the road had homes and shops with a 30 mph limit. It was near 7 p.m. and quite busy.
Irshad had a passenger who was also hurt, and his driving got worse over time. It went from erratic to aggressive, and he drove fast before the impact. He went between 49 and 65 mph; experts said it was closer to the higher speed, about twice the speed limit.
Irshad overtook a Toyota and made a moped and SUV swerve. He drove right into the path of cars, and the Kimblins could not avoid the crash. The Nissan flipped and hit a wall, and three people nearby nearly got hit. The judge stated fortune prevented more harm, and firefighters freed the couple.
Kenneth Kimblin was already an amputee and suffered lasting serious injuries. He said he feared for his wife and felt very lonely. One daughter, who was pregnant at the time, said the driving stole her mother, as Irshad ignored road rules and drove twice the limit into traffic.
Irshad had ten past offenses, including violent acts. The Kimblin family said they were crushed because Karen cared easily for everyone.