A Bradford man has denied racing his friend moments before a high-speed crash which killed a 21-year-old university student and seriously injured two passengers.
Mohammed Awais Iqbal, 24, is standing trial at Bradford Crown Court accused of driving dangerously alongside his friend Husayn Ali before the fatal collision on Bolton Road on March 7, 2024.
Prosecutors allege Mr Ali and Iqbal were travelling at around 65mph on a road with a 30mph speed limit.
Mr Ali’s Skoda Fabia subsequently veered across Bolton Road and collided with a Volkswagen Golf travelling in the opposite direction.
He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead around three hours later.
Passengers Bilal Hussain and Harris Butt suffered serious injuries.
Iqbal, of Beechwood Drive in Wibsey, denies causing death by dangerous driving, dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Iqbal Denies Racing Friend
Giving evidence during the fourth day of his trial, Iqbal repeated his denial that he had been racing Mr Ali or encouraging him to drive faster.
In an earlier police interview, Iqbal said he had seen Mr Ali’s Skoda “swerving from side to side”.
He claimed he activated his hazard lights in an attempt to warn his friend about the way he was driving.
Iqbal denied that the flashing lights were intended to encourage Mr Ali or that the fatal collision had anything to do with his own actions.
The court heard that Mr Ali was driving too quickly for the road, while Iqbal initially attempted to keep up with him before slowing.
Prosecutor Says Flashing Lights Encouraged Speed
Prosecuting barrister Gerald Hendron challenged Iqbal’s account of why he activated the lights.
CCTV footage shown to jurors captured Iqbal’s Seat following Mr Ali’s Skoda, with both vehicles initially travelling at normal speeds and passing through several sets of traffic lights.
Mr Hendron suggested the flashing lights were part of the interaction between the two friends and encouraged Mr Ali to accelerate.
“This was just all a bit of fun between some guys having a laugh [and] driving their cars, wasn’t it?” he asked.
Iqbal replied: “I disagree.”
The prosecutor suggested the flashing lights were “just entertainment – a signal to go fast”.
Iqbal again disagreed.
Prosecution Says Iqbal Was Following Too Closely
Mr Hendron also alleged Iqbal was driving dangerously by remaining too close to the Skoda.
“You were driving far too close to him, distracting him, and encouraging him,” he told the defendant.
He alleged both men were driving dangerously together.
Mr Hendron further suggested Iqbal’s position immediately behind the Skoda reduced the options available to Mr Ali once his car began to slide.
“If you had backed off, in all likelihood he would have driven round that bend at 30 miles an hour because there was nobody watching him drive,” the prosecutor said.
Iqbal rejected the suggestion.
Defence Says Mr Ali’s Driving Caused Crash
Defence barrister Allan Armbrister argued that Mr Ali’s driving, rather than anything Iqbal did, caused the collision.
The jury heard Mr Ali failed to slow sufficiently as he approached the bend.
The defence case is that although Iqbal’s own driving is alleged to have been dangerous, it did not encourage or contribute to the crash which killed his friend.
Iqbal was described to the jury as having no previous convictions and being of previous good character.
Seat Had Been Modified To Around 400bhp
The trial also heard evidence about modifications made to Iqbal’s Seat Leon Cupra.
The vehicle had been bought at auction and was found to have a missing catalytic converter and resonator.
Its lighting system had also been modified.
Jurors heard that instead of the indicators and dipped front headlights flashing together, lights on alternating sides of the vehicle could flash.
The engine had also been tuned to increase its performance to approximately 400 brake horsepower.
Friends Were Heading To Dessert Parlour
Iqbal and Mr Ali had met following celebrations for a mutual friend’s birthday on the night of the collision.
Three cars then set off towards a dessert parlour on Leeds Road.
The fatal crash happened during that relatively short journey.
Mr Ali’s Skoda failed to negotiate the bend on Bolton Road, crossed into the opposing carriageway and collided with the oncoming Volkswagen Golf.
Her Honour Judge Kirstie Watson is expected to sum up the case on Monday before the jury retires to consider its verdicts.
