Family of crash victim in plea to drivers

Arsalan Baig was described by his relatives as a "much loved and important part of our now broken family"

The family of a man who was killed in a "catastrophic" road collision in Bradford has issued a plea to drivers urging them to be responsible for their actions.

Arsalan Khalid Baig, 24, died in hospital the day after the car he was a passenger in smashed into a wall on a sharp 90-degree bend on an industrial estate in July 2022.

The driver, Mohammed Azad Khan, who also died, had been travelling at about twice the road's 30mph limit and had cannabis in his system, an inquest was told.

After the inquest, in which the coroner delivered a narrative verdict, Mr Baig's family urged people to "grasp the gravity of their decisions behind the wheel".

The inquest, at Bradford Coroner's Court, heard that the crash happened as the men were travelling along Dryden Street in an Audi SQ5 at about 23:30 BST on 30 July 2022.

Mr Khan, a married 24-year-old, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.

Another passenger accompanying Mr Khan and Mr Baig suffered a broken leg in the crash.

None of the passengers had been wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, the inquest was told.

The car had been travelling at around twice the road's 30mph limit before the crash, the inquest heard

The amount of cannabis in Mr Khan's system was nine times above the legal drug-drive limit, while laughing gas canisters were also found in the vehicle, it heard.

Recording a narrative conclusion, assistant coroner Angela Brocklehurst said the lives of Mr Khan and Mr Baig might have been saved had seatbelts been worn.

In a statement following the inquest, members of Mr Baig's family said he was "a very much loved and important part of our now broken family" and that his death had left an "irreplaceable void".

They added: "He was a happy, bubbly child, full of life, who had aspirations for his bright future that have now been left unachieved.

"Words cannot express the profound grief we feel knowing his life was cut short unjustly.

"We urge everyone to grasp the gravity of their decisions behind the wheel, understanding the immense ripple effects they can trigger.

"Additionally, let us heed a crucial lesson from this tragedy: the important of ensuring the sobriety and attentiveness of those behind the wheel before entrusting them with our lives."

The coroner said she would ask the council to improve signage along the road in an effort to prevent future deaths

Another fatal collision had since occurred on the same bend when a pick-up truck crashed into the wall in October last year, killing the 33-year-old driver, the inquest had heard.

Ms Brocklehurst said she had "noted from the evidence" during the inquest that there was an "absence of speed notification signs" along the road before the corner and a "lack of hazard warning signs indicating a sharp bend".

She said she would issue a notice to Bradford Council requiring it to consider taking steps to prevent future deaths on the road.

"It's time people knew about these dangerous spots," she added.

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said: "The council will work with the coroner’s office and the police on this matter and any relevant actions pertaining from the discussions will be considered."

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