Drink driver killed friend in Christmas Day crash - then tried to lie his way out of trouble

A drink driver killed his friend when he hit motorway speeds on a 30mph road and crashed into a tree. When confronted by police, Nirvair Lall tried to cover his tracks - he initially denied involvement in the Christmas Day smash, then claimed someone else had been behind the wheel.

But his lies were exposed and an investigation found Lall had been drinking before he got into the black Ford Fiesta during the early hours of December 25, 2022. He drove it in a 'dangerous manner' along Forge Lane, West Bromwich, where he 'lost control' and crashed.

Front seat passenger, Inderjot Singh, aged 25, was declared dead at the scene. Lall gave false details to police, and denied being involved in the collision - but his story later changed, and he claimed he was a rear seat passenger and the driver had run off.

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However officers had suspicions around his involvement and Lall was arrested. A roadside breath test was also conducted, which he failed.

Lall and friends were captured on CCTV earlier that evening, socialising and drinking inside a pub on Park Lane, Hockley. Lall was then seen getting into the driver’s seat of the vehicle with Inderjot as a passenger.

The friends were wearing electronic tags at the time following a release from prison - and police were able to retrieve data which showed just before the collision they were travelling at a speed of nearly 70mph on a 30mph road.

Lall’s claims about a third person being involved in the collision were also disproved with further enquiries. He charged and later admitted causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink. The 25-year-old, of Amberley Green, Birmingham, was jailed for four years and disqualified from driving for seven years at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 11.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Gail Arnold from West Midlands Police's Serious Collision investigation Unit said: “Lall was driving the vehicle at motorway speeds – more than double the speed limit on the road while intoxicated. He was driving in a dangerous manner and ultimately caused the death of his friend.

“This tragic incident shows the real consequences of getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated and our thoughts are with Inderjot’s loved ones.”