Drink driver jailed following hit and run which killed 12-year-old girl

A man has been jailed for causing the death of a 12-year-old girl in a hit and run collision.

Edward Tully, 30 (26.01.1994), of Norfolk Road, St John’s Wood was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 29 November following a meticulous Met investigation.

The court heard that on Saturday, 20 August 2022, Tully was driving his Bentley Continental at 56mph - 26mph over the speed limit –when he hit the rear of a Vauxhall Astra containing the girl’s family.

The collision, in Colney Hatch Lane N11, caused catastrophic injuries to the girl and life-changing injuries to her father. Her mother and brother received minor injuries.

Tully then fled the scene.

The girl sadly died at hospital days later.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit began an investigation, gathering CCTV footage to piece together Tully’s movements. The court heard that Tully spent £1,500 on alcohol in a bar hours before the crash.

Tully handed himself into Colindale Police Station shortly after the incident and was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious Injury by dangerous driving on Sunday, 21 August 2022.

He pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, 25 October.

Detective Sergeant Nush Puvitharan, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said:

“Tully's selfish actions have sadly resulted in the loss of a young life. My thoughts are with the family, dealing with the devastating loss of their daughter, who had a bright future ahead of her.

“I hope the sentence acts as a deterrent to those who chose to drink and drive. Drink driving has a horrific impact and destroys the lives of others.

"My team worked extremely hard to put strong evidence before the court and I want to thank them for their work.

“Met officers remain committed to keeping London safe and bringing perpetrators to justice.”

In a statement, the family said:

“There is some closure with the sentence, it will never heal us. The pain will stay with us. We don’t want this to happen to any other family.

“We will miss our daughter. No sentence will bring her back. We implore anyone thinking of doing the same to think twice before drinking and driving.

“They don’t know the harm and will never understand the devastation it causes. We waited for over two years for justice due to the cowardly actions the defendant took.”