Police watchdog to investigate fatal crash

Hizar Hanif was due to be best man at his friend's wedding

An inquiry into how police handled an incident at a health centre, the day before a passenger in a stationary car was killed in a smash, has started.

Hizar Hanif, 31, died when an Audi was in collision with a number of vehicles on Soho Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, on 18 February.

The day before police had been called to a health centre to deal with incidents involving a man who was also involved in the Soho Road crash, a police watchdog said.

West Midlands Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The collision occurred at approximately 20:20 GMT on the 18 February

"Our investigation, which is at a very early stage, will consider the prior police contact and whether opportunities were missed to prevent what happened the following day," said Derrick Campbell, regional director for IOPC.

Two other people were hurt in the Soho Road incident, one seriously.

A 25-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released under police investigation.

Mr Hanif had been due to be best man at a wedding and had been the groom's best friend.

He had a young son and his wife said he accomplished so much in the little time he was given and made the most of life.

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