Man responsible for Grangemouth teenager death jailed

Sami Ullah Jabbar (29) was sentenced to five years in prison after hitting cyclist, Harley Smith (16) in November 2020.

He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today, Tuesday 16th August.

The crash happened around 8.55pm on the A803, Polmont Road, Falkirk, at the junction with Dundas Road, on Friday, 6 November, 2020.

Alongside his half-decade sentence, Sami Ullah Jabbar was banned from driving for 12 and a half years after previously being convicted of death by dangerous driving.

The victim, 16-year-old Harley Smith from Grangemouth, sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Road policing officer Euan Steel said: “This was a tragic and avoidable crash that caused the death of a teenager on his way home. It has had a devastating impact on Harley’s family and friends and our thoughts are very much with them.

“Following an investigation by officers, Jabbar was found to have been driving excessively fast, some 80mph on a road with a 30mph speed limit. The loss of Harley’s life is a stark reminder of the consequences which speeding can have.

“Drivers must obey speed limits and respect the safety of other road users. It is drivers who are responsible for their own actions and I would like to remind anyone tempted to exceed the speed limit that it is just not worth it and can have the severest of conclusions.”