First picture of ‘very safe’ taxi driver killed in ‘head-on’ crash in Bolton

This is the first picture of a taxi driver killed in a collision that also claimed the lives of three friends.

Mosrab Ali, from Blackburn, was named by family as the taxi driver killed in the head-on collision.

Ring doorbell footage seen by the Metro shows one of the cars on the wrong lane of Wigan Road in Bolton smashing into another car head-on, early Sunday morning.

His daughter told Lancs Live that Mr Ali – who had driven the cab for ten years – was ‘such a safe driver’ and always used to tell his family: ‘Don’t worry about me.’

‘It’s clear that my dad wasn’t at fault and didn’t do anything wrong,’ she added.

Humayra Ali, 29, said her family were ‘devastated’ adding: ‘My first thought was how scared my father must have been in that one split moment before his life was lost.’

She told BBC Manchester: ‘We are all in shock – even in denial.

‘I feel like it’s just a bad dream that I’m about to wake up from.

‘He was just a really good man – anyone would say so.

‘Anyone who has known him would say he’s a kind man – very generous, has a big heart.

‘People have come back to tell me that he had the gentlest soul, he’s hard-working – and he was very hard-working right until his last breath.’

The driver of the Seat and two passengers, believed to be Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, Farhan Patel and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar were all killed in the crash.

In the Citroen, a 29-year-old woman suffered potentially life-threatening injuries.

A 28-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man suffered serious injuries and a 29-year-old man has minor injuries.

An 18-year-old man, who was a passenger in the Seat, remains in hospital for treatment on minor injuries.

The teen victims have been named by the Bolton Council of Mosques as Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, Farhan Patel and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar.

One local resident who saw the aftermath of the accident told The Bolton News: ‘I can’t believe it.

‘I heard the loudest bang and I saw them doing CPR on the person who was in the car accident.’

He added: ‘I seen the taxi driver’s passenger, a woman get out the taxi and there were two other people who was in the taxi unconscious.’

Police are urging the public to come forward with information after the red Seat Leon and Citroen Picasso collided at around 12.45 am.

DI Andrew Page said the force was still working to establish what caused the ‘terrible’ crash.

He said: ‘As an investigation team we would encourage people to be mindful of sharing footage on social media given the impact this will have on all the families involved in such a tragic incident. Sharing such footage could constitute a criminal offence.

‘Thanks to patrols in the area, teams were able to get to the incident location quickly to what was a particularly challenging scene for colleagues in the emergency services.

‘The scene closed on Sunday evening, but we are still appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Anyone who saw the vehicle driving before the collision, witnessed the incident itself, or has dashcam/ CCTV footage of the incident can share it with us.’

Chief Inspector Helen McCormick added: ‘This was a devastating incident for all those involved, none more so than the families of the deceased.

‘This was a particularly challenging scene for colleagues in the emergency services, and I want to thank first responders from our Bolton district and road policing unit of GMP, as well as the fire service and ambulance service, for all their hard work through the night and into today.’

She added: ‘This is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety on our roads across Greater Manchester and here in Bolton, where plenty of work has been done and continues to try and ensure our roads are safe for all.

‘We have massively reduced the number of serious and fatal collisions in Bolton. But we have all got much more to do.

‘One incident is one too many and this will do nothing to bring back the four lives affected. My thoughts are with everyone affected.’

Councillor Ayyub Patel, of Rumworth, has asked members of the community to avoid speculation about the crash.

Emergency services – including fire engines and a technical response unit – were called to the scene.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that three fire engines and a technical response unit were called to the scene on Wigan Road at around 12.50 am.

Cllr Patel added: ‘As a councillor for Rumworth, I am deeply saddened to hear about the serious incident on Wigan Road.

‘My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the persons who have tragically lost their lives, and my thoughts are with everyone affected.

‘I want to express my gratitude to the emergency services for their swift and professional response in such difficult circumstances.

‘Our community will stand together in support, and we will await further updates from the authorities.’

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