Man jailed for causing death of teenage passenger

Muhammed Waqas driving at speeds of up to 108mph before he lost control of his car

A man who was driving at speeds of up to 108mph before he hit a tree, killing his teenage passenger, has been jailed.

Muhammed Waqas lost control of his Audi SQ5 on Nechells Parkway in Birmingham on 1 May - a road with a 40mph limit.

The 22-year-old, of Dolphin Road in Birmingham, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.

He was jailed for eight years and banned from driving for nine years, after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and driving a vehicle while uninsured.

Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from West Midlands Police's serious collision investigation unit, described the crash as "totally avoidable".

'Lost a son'

He said, "Excessive speed is one of the most common factors in the tragic incidents my team and I deal with, in particular with young drivers like Waqas.

"While he has deservedly been locked up for his actions, our thoughts remain with the family of the 19-year-old man, whose family have lost a son.

"This whole tragedy was totally avoidable and we need drivers to think about their decisions and realise that in a split second those decisions can result in the loss of a life."

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