Hristo Iliev, 32, of Hide Close, Boston, has been sentenced after causing the death of a 20-month-old toddler.
At 4:45pm on Wednesday 19 March 2025 Iliev was driving east on the A17 towards Holdingham roundabout, near Sleaford, in a Volkswagen Passat, when he approached a queue of slow-moving traffic as it reached the roundabout. Stationary at the rear of the queue was a Kia Ceed, which was behind an Audi A5 as they too approached the roundabout.
Iliev (pictured) failed to react and brake for the cars ahead, and he ploughed into the rear of the Kia, which in turn hit the Audi ahead. 20-month-old Finley Baker was seated in the rear near side of the Kia, restrained in a rear facing child seat that was attached with Isofix fixings. Finley sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision and sadly died two days later from those injuries.
The driver of the Kia, Chloe Baker, and her other 8-year-old son at the time of the collision, who was also in the rear of the car, were conveyed to hospital for treatment. Chloe Baker received serious shoulder injuries in the collision, subsequently requiring major reconstructive surgery.
Following the collision, Iliev was arrested and blood samples obtained for testing, as well as two mobile phones being seized from him for examination. The samples subsequently showed no traces of any drink or drugs in his system.
Following an extensive investigation by our Serious and Forensic Collision Investigation Units Iliev was charged with the two offences that he was sentenced for at court today. Technical examinations of the vehicles involved found no issues that were contributory in the collision.
Iliev’s mobile phones were subsequently examined as part of the investigation. This found that in the seven minutes preceding the collision, the phones had both been used. However, one phone in particular was being used to access both TikTok and an Apple TV application.
Evidence of video viewing, uploading and downloading was evident. Crucially in the moments before the collision occurred, the examination found that the TikTok application was in use and a video was playing.
The investigation further established that the collision was solely due to the driving of Iliev and that none of the other vehicles involved could have done anything to avoid the collision occurring.
In interview, Iliev provided a prepared statement to the officers and then went no comment to all further questions that were put to him.
Detective Sergeant James Perring, from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision was due to the dangerous driving of Iliev when he selfishly paid no attention to his driving as he watched videos on his devices. Those actions cost a young toddler his life and seriously injured another, destroying lives in a way which can never be undone.
“The importance of concentration and not being distracted cannot be overstated. This was a wholly preventable collision, and I feel nothing but disappointment for the way he has so pointlessly destroyed lives. I would implore anybody thinking of behaving in the same way never to do so.”
During sentencing the court heard that Iliev had previously received fixed penalties for speeding and for using his mobile phone whilst driving.
Iliev was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months imprisonment at Lincoln Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for a total of ten years and six and a half months and must take an extended re-test before being allowed to drive again.
Photo by Lincolnshire Police
Photo by RSM Photography
Photo by RSM Photography
Photo by RSM Photography
