Manchester van driver 'took 20 lines of coke' before killing toddler in crash
Rawal Rehman pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after he hit a tram and then a three-year-old girl, who died from her injuries.
Tuesday 22 April 2025 18:02, UK
A van driver who killed a three-year-old girl in a crash had taken "at least 20 lines of cocaine", a court has heard.
Rawal Rehman, 35, of Lambton Road, Manchester, was driving on Mosley Street on 22 February when he collided with a tram.
He then hit Louisa Palmisano - known as Lulu - while she was walking with her parents, and fled the scene at around 10am before later being arrested.
The three-year-old girl died from her injuries in hospital.
On Tuesday, Rehman pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in his Mercedes Sprinter van.
Prosecutor Rachel Shenton told Manchester Crown Court that he had visited two massage parlours in the city hours before.
She added he had taken "at least 20 lines of cocaine" in seven hours.
Judge Alan Conrad KC heard it was the prosecution's case that Rehman's drug consumption adversely affected his driving.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement that Rehman ignored stop signs and gave the tram driver no time to react before it struck the side of the van, which then mounted the pavement.
Abbie Clarke, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "It is clear his driving fell far short of what is expected of a competent and careful driver.
"Rehman failed to take responsibility for his actions. He fled the scene in a taxi and denied that he drove dangerously in interview, only accepting responsibility on his third hearing before the court.
"He must now face the consequences for his role in this wholly avoidable tragedy."
Read more from Sky News:
Harvard sues Trump over $2.2bn freeze
Details of Pope's funeral announced
Follow our channel and never miss an update.
Rehman was previously jailed in 2017 for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by burning a car involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision, which killed a 25-year-old man in Chorlton.
He has been remanded in custody until sentencing on 27 May.