This is the moment a yawning Audi driver fell into a ‘micro-sleep’ before causing a fatal crash.
Kolawole Erunkulu was driving along the A23 in Merstham, Surrey, when he left the road and hit Philip Dray.
Dashcam footage shows Erunkulu falling asleep behind the wheel of his car on the morning of August 17 last year.
The taxi driver had been driving for twelve hours straight and had not taken a proper rest for almost three days, although there were no passengers at the time of the collision.
Struggling to stay awake, the 45-year-old closes his eyes for a moment before suddenly jerking awake.
At that point, as he fell into what Surrey Police described as ‘micro-sleep’ – a very short period of sleep lasting just a few seconds during which the brain does not process any information – Erunkulu crossed the roadway.
Erunkulu, from Bexleyheath in the south-east Londonthen collided with Mr Dray, 59, who was standing in a roadside car park.
The 59-year-old had parked to take a break and opened the driver’s door to get back into his Volkswagen when he was hit. He died on the spot.
Erunkulu, who has dual British and Nigerian nationality, was charged in March with causing death by dangerous driving.
Dashcam footage shows Kolawole Erunkulu falling asleep at the wheel of his car on the morning of August 17, 2025
Philip Kray, who was knocked down and killed by Erunkulu after falling asleep at the wheel of his car
Erunkulu pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court in June and was jailed for six years last week.
He has also been immediately disqualified from driving for eight years and will be subject to an extended re-examination if he reapplies for his driving licence.
In sentencing, Judge Patricia Lees said: ‘The images show that the suspect was extremely tired and, in my opinion, continued to drive while he must have known this.
‘He drove commercially. Even though he had no passenger, he could have done so and drove in that condition. All this could have been stopped if he had been asleep.’
Acting Inspector Rob Baldwin said: “This case unfortunately highlights the very real dangers of driving while fatigued. Mr Erunkulu had been working long hours in recent days with insufficient rest, accumulating a sleep debt.
‘Fatigue can seriously affect a driver’s ability to stay alert and respond safely, especially during the early morning hours when the natural urge to sleep is strongest.
‘Anyone who feels tired should not continue driving as the consequences can be devastating.’
Struggling to stay awake, Erunkulu closes his eyes before suddenly jerking awake
Erunkulu pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court in June and was jailed for six years last week
Paying tribute to Mr Dray, his family described him as ‘a wonderful partner and man’.
His sister said he was ‘reliable and steadfast’; the kind of person people could rely on without hesitation.”
‘He never sought attention and lived his life quietly, but he cared deeply about others and treated people with respect and decency. He was just a good man,” she said.
‘Philip spent his life as a careful and conscientious driver, ensuring the safety of his passengers and other road users. The fact that he, someone who worked every day to protect others, was taken in such a way makes this loss even more incomprehensible and tragic.”
Mr Dray’s partner described him as ‘a sweet, gentle and caring man’.
She said they were each other’s “cheerleader, advisor, partner and best friend,” and that he was “the one who was always there to give me a hug.”
She added: ‘Phil was my partner and my soulmate’ and described ‘a huge emotional and physical void’ without him. ‘He would call me several times a day while he was waiting for a customer or during lunch, just to ask how my day was going. I really miss those phone calls.”
To raise awareness of the dangers of fatigued driving, the family has agreed to release video footage of the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Police discovered that Erunkulu had been driving for approximately 53 hours over three days prior to the collision.
Records from his employer showed that the longest rest period he had was just seven hours, three days before the accident.
Other breaks include one of about four hours and two of about two hours. In the period immediately before the collision, he had driven a taxi for about twelve hours, with only short breaks.
