A young man has been sentenced to a decade in prison following a fatal head-on collision caused by his reckless driving. Kiran Hanson, described as driving irresponsibly and excessively fast, lost control of the vehicle, leading to the tragic death of passenger Benn Johnson and severe injuries to his brother, Finn.

Finn, who was 18 at the time, recounted imploring Hanson, then 19, to stop the reckless driving. He shared that his brother’s final moments were spent urging the driver to cease his dangerous behavior before the collision with another vehicle on June 10, 2024.

Hanson, now 21, was also banned from driving for 18 years in addition to his prison sentence. The devastated mother of the victim, Kathleen, expressed the profound pain caused by Hanson’s thoughtless actions, lamenting the loss of one of her sons due to his recklessness.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Hanson had consumed alcohol and cannabis before picking up Finn and Benn. Witnesses described his erratic and dangerous driving behavior, ignoring pleas to slow down and driving as if he were in a race.

The fatal crash occurred as Hanson attempted a risky overtaking maneuver, resulting in a collision with a Range Rover driven by Sami Zeidan. The impact caused severe injuries to Zeidan and Hanson, with the former hospitalized for fractured ribs.

Hanson eventually pleaded guilty to charges of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Despite having no prior criminal record, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Judge Shaun Smith KC, who emphasized the grave consequences of irresponsible driving.

The court also heard emotional impact statements from Finn and Benn’s family members, highlighting the lasting trauma and heartbreak caused by Hanson’s actions. Hanson’s defense attorney expressed his client’s remorse for the harm he caused and acknowledged the weight of responsibility he must carry for the rest of his life.