Two men have been sentenced to prison following a high-speed street race in Leeds that resulted in the deaths of a mother and her young daughter. The incident occurred on the morning of January 16, 2023, on the A61, a busy city road.

Hardeep Bhachu, 29, was driving a white Audi TT RS, while Jasskamal Riyat, 37, was in a black BMW M135i. The two men, who did not know each other beforehand, found themselves side by side at traffic lights during rush hour. According to court reports, they began racing each other aggressively, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph on a stretch of road where the speed limit ranged from 40 mph down to 30 mph.

Dashcam footage from Bhachu’s vehicle showed the drivers discussing and comparing the performance and horsepower of their cars just before accelerating again. The race ended in tragedy when Bhachu lost control of the Audi, which mounted the pavement and struck Justyna Hulboj, 27, and her daughter Lena Czepczor, four, as they walked to the nursery. Both victims died at the scene. Riyat was driving close behind Bhachu at the time and subsequently fled the scene.

Bhachu pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Riyat denied involvement in the race but was convicted following a trial and received a 16-year prison sentence.

At Leeds Crown Court, Judge Ray Singh condemned the actions of both men, stating that public roads are not meant for racing and emphasizing the irreversible consequences of their reckless driving. He highlighted that the victims were innocent pedestrians who were simply on their way to school.

In a victim impact statement read during sentencing, Dominik Czepczor, the fiancé of Justyna Hulboj and father of Lena, described the profound and lasting grief caused by the loss. He said that prior to the crash, he had a life filled with hopes and dreams, which were shattered by the tragedy. He expressed that the pain of losing the two most important people in his life would stay with him permanently.

The case underscores the dangers of reckless behavior on public roads and the devastating consequences that can arise when drivers prioritize speed and competition over safety.