Moment drug dealer ploughs into hit-and-run victim while fleeing police
Harrowing footage of a man being hit by a speeding car while trying to cross the road at a zebra crossing has been released by police.
Nahome Rezene, 23, was fleeing from a patrol car when he struck the man, who has not been named.
While the footage cuts out before the moment of impact, it shows the victim stepping out onto the crossing before the car approaches at speed. He was left with life-changing injuries.
Earlier in the evening of November 26 last year, police investigating several burglaries had attempted to stop Rezene, from Hillingdon, west London.
He refused to brake and drove off in his Mercedes. Police gave chase through the built-up streets of Uxbridge as Rezene tried to shake them off, clocking speeds of 80mph in 30mph zones and driving on the wrong side of the road.
He hit the man on Uxbridge High Street and sped off from the scene. Police stopped their chase to help the victim while Rezene carried on going.
He later crashed into a bus and another vehicle – injuring two more people who had to be taken to hospital.
This crash left the car Rezene was driving so badly damaged that he fled the scene on foot, dropping his coat. This was then found by a police dog as a manhunt got under way.
More officers arrived at scene of the crash and found heroin worth £2,500 inside the Mercedes.
Later CCTV showed Rezene throwing something out of the car window during the chase. It was found to be cocaine, valued at around £12,500.
Rezene wasn’t caught for nearly a month but eventually handed himself in on January 2 after he was identified via CCTV.
He was charged with various offences including causing series injury by dangerous driving and possession with intent to supply. He pled guilty on August 14 and was jailed for five years on September 30.
PC Kevin McLean from West Area CID said: ‘This was a very complex and serious investigation, which my team and I were determined to solve.
‘The CCTV footage of Rezene’s driving is horrendous and my heart goes out to the victim who suffered has life changing injuries.
‘The overwhelming evidence that we gathered against Rezene and presented in court left him no option but to plead guilty. This spared the victim having to relive the incident at trial.
‘Drugs supply is linked to violence in all its guises and we are steadfast in our determination to protect the public and make London safe for all our communities.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.