An 18-year-old man received five years in prison for a fatal traffic accident in Copenhagen that killed a 65-year-old grandfather and severely injured his pregnant daughter-in-law. The young driver was speeding in a borrowed Porsche when he struck the family outside a baby store. The victim’s son says the sentence is not enough and feels devastated by the ongoing legal process.
Tragic Accident Claims Life of Expectant Grandfather
The incident unfolded on Roskildevej in Copenhagen’s Valby district in August 2025. Shahram Hamrazpour, 65, had just purchased a stroller for his soon-to-arrive grandchild at BabySam. He was loading it into his car alongside his son Ali and pregnant daughter-in-law when disaster struck.
A now 18-year-old driver, who was only 17 at the time, crashed into them while driving a borrowed Porsche at excessive speed. The impact killed Shahram instantly and left Ali’s wife with serious injuries. Ali himself was also exposed to danger during the collision.
A Day That Should Have Been Joyful
The family had originally planned to go out for dinner that day. Instead, Shahram surprised the expectant parents with a shopping trip for baby essentials. The grandfather was excited about welcoming his first grandchild and wanted to help prepare.
Ali described hearing a loud crash while they were at the car. His immediate focus turned to his wife, whose foot sustained severe damage. Moments later, he saw his father lying on the ground with catastrophic injuries.
Devastating Impact on Family
Ali testified in court about his close relationship with his father. As an only child, he had grown up with Shahram as his sole parent. They saw each other nearly every day and shared an exceptionally tight bond.
The couple has since welcomed their son, who is doing well. However, Ali’s wife may face permanent disability from her injuries. The emotional trauma continues to affect the entire family as they try to move forward.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The Frederiksberg court delivered its verdict with a panel of judges reaching unanimous agreement. The courtroom was filled with men dressed in black, sitting on benches with feet tapping nervously against the floor. Quiet whispers filled the air as everyone awaited the decision.
The prosecution had charged the young man with reckless driving in Denmark under aggravating circumstances. The charges included both excessive speed and suspected nitrous oxide influence at the time of the crash.
Evidence of Dangerous Behavior
The defendant admitted to driving the vehicle and causing the death. However, he denied that it occurred under aggravating circumstances. The court examined extensive evidence about his driving behavior throughout that day.
Video evidence showed him filming himself while driving over 200 kilometers per hour on the motorway that morning. Additional footage captured him inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, at 5:10 PM while driving in Glostrup. The fatal accident occurred later that evening.
Speed Determination Proves Critical
The court could not definitively prove nitrous oxide impairment at the moment of impact. The presiding judge noted that a forensic chemist testified the effects typically last only one to two minutes. The driver’s behavior after the crash could have been attributed to shock rather than intoxication.
Instead, the court focused on excessive speed as the determining factor. Judges concluded the driver was traveling at least 70 kilometers per hour in a 50 kilometer per hour zone. This represented at least 40 percent over the legal limit in that area.
Pattern of Reckless Driving Behavior
The judge emphasized the defendant’s overall approach to operating vehicles. His actions throughout the day painted a picture of someone with little regard for traffic safety or other road users. This pattern became central to the court’s determination of guilt under aggravating circumstances.
The combination of morning speeding, midday nitrous oxide use, afternoon excessive speed, and evening fatal crash demonstrated what the court called particularly reckless conduct. These factors supported the charge of negligent manslaughter under especially aggravating circumstances.
Previous High Speed Incidents
Evidence showed the young driver had engaged in extreme speeding multiple times on the day of the accident. Video recordings from his own phone documented speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour on public highways. He filmed these incidents while actively driving, adding distraction to the already dangerous behavior.
The court viewed this pattern as indicative of his general disregard for traffic regulations. His approach to driving showed consistent risk-taking behavior rather than an isolated mistake or momentary lapse in judgment.
Self Documentation as Evidence
The defendant’s habit of filming himself while driving provided prosecutors with compelling evidence. These videos showed not only excessive speed but also his willingness to use his phone while operating a vehicle at dangerous velocities. Such behavior compounds the risks to other road users.
This self-documentation ultimately worked against him in court. The recordings left little room for dispute about his driving patterns and attitudes toward road safety throughout the critical day.
Family Response to Verdict
Ali Hamrazpour expressed disappointment with the five-year sentence. He told reporters the punishment does not feel adequate given that his father is gone forever. His wife potentially faces lifelong disability from injuries sustained in the crash.
The family had hoped for a lengthier sentence that would better reflect the permanent consequences of the driver’s actions. For them, no amount of prison time can restore what was taken or heal the trauma they continue to experience.
Ongoing Legal Battle
The convicted driver immediately appealed the verdict after a brief consultation with his defense attorney. He waved to his family before being returned to pretrial detention, where he remains held. This decision to appeal extends the legal process for everyone involved.
Ali described the appeal as an open wound that continues to cause pain. The family must now prepare to return to court and relive the traumatic events once again. They had hoped to close this chapter and focus on healing and moving forward with their lives.
Living With Loss
Beyond the legal proceedings, the family faces daily reminders of their loss. Shahram will never meet the grandson he was so excited to welcome. The new parents must navigate their joy at their son’s arrival while grieving the grandfather who should have been there.
Ali stated they have other traumas to process beyond the ongoing court case. The family simply wants to move past this chapter but finds themselves pulled back into the legal system. They remain focused on their young son, who is thriving despite the difficult circumstances surrounding his birth.
Broader Context of Traffic Safety
This case highlights ongoing concerns about dangerous driving behavior among young motorists in Denmark. The combination of extreme speed, phone use while driving, and potential substance impairment represents multiple violations that put innocent people at risk. Traffic safety experts consistently warn about such reckless conduct.
The incident occurred in a busy shopping area where families frequently walk and load purchases into vehicles. Such locations require extra caution from drivers due to pedestrian activity and limited visibility around parked cars.
Speed Limits and Enforcement
Danish traffic regulations set speed limits based on road conditions and surrounding environment. Urban areas typically have lower limits to protect pedestrians and account for increased traffic complexity. Exceeding these limits by 40 percent or more demonstrates severe disregard for public safety.
Driving in Denmark requires adherence to these regulations for everyone’s protection. Law enforcement and courts take violations seriously, especially when they result in injury or death. Penalties increase substantially when aggravating factors are present.
Young Drivers and Risk Taking
Statistics consistently show younger drivers are overrepresented in serious traffic accidents. Factors include inexperience, risk-taking behavior, and sometimes impaired judgment. This case exemplifies how a combination of youth and recklessness can have devastating consequences.
The defendant was only 17 at the time of the accident, yet was operating a high-performance vehicle. The borrowed Porsche was capable of extreme speeds that require considerable skill and judgment to handle safely. His actions throughout the day showed neither the maturity nor responsibility necessary for such a vehicle.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Driving in Denmark: Navigating Roads and Regulations
The Danish Dream: Best Car Insurance in Denmark for Foreigners
DR: Søn til dræbt bedstefar efter dødsulykke: Det er et åbent sår
Nyheder24: 18-årig Porsche-chauffør kørte 65-årig ihjel
Avisen: Fem års fængsel til 18-årig for dødelig trafikulykke
SN: 18-årig idømt fem års fængsel for dødsulykke
