Two men jailed following two fatal collisions in Rochdale

Two men have been jailed today (29 September) in relation to the deaths of Jason Goostrey and Prosper Mhepo in separate incidents earlier this year.

Alan McDonagh, 19, has been jailed for nine years and Patrick Doran, 32, has been jailed for five years for driving offences which resulted in the deaths of the two men in Rochdale in January and March this year.

On 4 January 2022 Alan McDonagh stole the keys for a brown Skoda Superb belonging to a member of staff from James Nuttall Transport in Rochdale and drove away from the yard in the car.

The following day the car, now displaying false number plates, was involved in a fatal road traffic accident in Rochdale. Whilst being driven at speed, on the wrong side of the road the Skoda collided with 50-year-old Jason Goostrey as he crossed Milnrow Road. Mr Goostrey died in hospital a few days later from a fatal neck injury.

 

 

Read more: Man injured in hit and run on Milnrow Road has diedPublished: 13 January 2022

Police recovered the Skoda at the junction of Percy Street with Sandfield Road, Rochdale two days later. Doran’s DNA was found in the car, showing he had driven the car at some point, but it was not proven who was driving the vehicle at the time of the collision.

Then, whilst on bail for aggravated vehicle taking, Alan McDonagh caused the death of a second man whilst dangerous driving.

On 20 March 2022 McDonagh was driving a blue BMW 318d in Rochdale owned by his friend 27-year-old Simbarashe Prosper Mhepo (known to his family as Prosper), with Mr Mhepo as his passenger.

Police officers on patrol saw the BMW 318d increase speed and begin to make off from them. Following a short pursuit, involving speeds in excess of 100 mph, as McDonagh overtook a black BMW 118d on the wrong side of Rochdale Road East, at the junction with Bradshaw Street, he collided with a pedestrian island and a traffic pole and began to spin. He then struck the front of the BMW 118d he had just overtaken before hitting the front of a shop.

McDonagh and Mr Mhepo were both ejected from the vehicle. They were taken to Salford Royal Hospital. McDonagh was treated for a head injury. Mr Mhepo suffered a catastrophic brain injury and died later that day.
 

Read more: Man dies after collision in HeywoodPublished: 25 March 2022

 

Mr Mhepo’s father in his Victim Impact Statement said: “McDonagh had the opportunity to stop when the police requested him to, but he chose to drive in such a dangerous manner taking their only son from them. Prosper thought they were friends. He trusted him, but he brought evil into his life and he has shown no remorse for what he has done. Prosper meant the world to them and even in his absence, his spirit lives with them.”

Alan McDonagh was jailed for a total of nine years - three years for aggravated vehicle taking, consecutive to six years for causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to four months imprisonment concurrent for all other counts. He was disqualified from driving for seven years and six months. Patrick Doran was jailed for five years for aggravated vehicle taking. He was disqualified from driving for five years and six months.

Sergeant Andrew Page, of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “It is difficult to comprehend the impact of Alan McDonagh’s and Patrick Doran’s reckless and ultimately fatal actions, as they have destroyed not one but two families’ lives.

“They not only showed no regard for anyone but themselves during either incident, but they have since offered nothing in the way of genuine remorse or compassion for their inexcusable actions.

“It’s a sad but very real part of our job that we often see the devastating impact of criminally dangerous behaviour on our roads, but these tragic events would largely be avoidable if everyone took extra care for those around them who are also wanting to use our streets safely.

“Offenders like McDonagh and Doran are exactly the reason we are doing so much more proactive work to ensure that Greater Manchester’s roads are safer for us all by tackling dangerous, disqualified, uninsured drivers so that fewer families have to receive the most terrible news that their loved one’s life has been so cruelly taken away.”

Darren Smith for the CPS said: “This is a truly tragic case, involving two men losing their lives through no fault of their own.

“Being on bail for an incident involving the death of one man did not make McDonagh stop and think; he drove in a an extremely dangerous manner resulting in further tragic consequences, this time involving his friend.

“As both men begin their prison sentences for these offences, I am aware that they can never reflect the devastating impact on the family and friends of Jason Goostrey and Simbarashe Prosper Mhepo. My thoughts are with them at this time.”