Man sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for causing death by dangerous driving

On Saturday 28 January 2023 at around 9pm, GMP officers were called to a serious collision between three vehicles on Halliwell Road in Bolton, Manchester.

It was established that a Mercedes E320 was being driven in excess of the posted 30mph speed limit when the driver collided with a Volkswagen Touran that was turning right from Wordsworth Road onto Halliwell Road.

Emergency services attended the scene, with medical staff from North West Ambulance Service giving medical aid to the driver of the Volkswagen Touran at the roadside before transporting him to the hospital for further treatment to his injuries.

Sadly, the driver succumbed to his injuries and passed away in hospital on Monday 20 February 2023 despite the best efforts of the hospital staff.

He was later confirmed to be 60-year-old Aqeel Akhtar whom his family provided a moving tribute mourning his loss.

The driver of the Mercedes E320 – a 26-year-old man - failed to stop at the scene of the collision, with the two passengers in the Mercedes also sustaining serious but not life threating injuries.

He was arrested on Friday 24 February 2023 in London and was the subsequently charged and remanded into custody.

Zoltan Lakatos (22/07/1997) of No Fixed Abode appeared at initially at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Tuesday 28 February 2023 and was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without third party insurance and failing to stop following a road traffic collision.

Today, (Friday 8 September 2023), Zoltan Lakatos was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court to 10 years and 6 months in prison after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving without third party insurance and failing to stop following a road traffic collision and failing to report a road traffic collision.

Lakatos was also disqualified from driving for 14 years and 5 months and will have to take an extended retest.

PC John Loxham said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with the family of Aqeel at this sad time. They have gone through a great loss over these past few months, and hopefully this sentence starts to bring some form of closure.

“Lakatos’ actions on that evening were dangerous and reckless, he showed absolutely no regard for the law or other road users – travelling at speeds almost three times the 30mph limit in that area.

“Speeding makes up one of the ‘Fatal 4’ alongside drink and drug driving, seatbelt misuse and the use of mobile devices behind the wheel, which are main areas of concern in Greater Manchester."

If you want to report any crime or information, please call 101 or report information on our website using the ‘report’ tool: www.gmp.police.uk

Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.