Man dies in car horror

Source: This is Bradford
Author: Sarah Walsh
Date: November 16, 2001

The family of a man killed after an out-of-control sports car mounted the pavement today spoke of their heartbreak at the tragedy.

New father Mazhar Iqbal, 25, died in Bradford Royal Infirmary's Intensive Care Unit yesterday after the accident in Whetley Hill, Bradford. He leaves behind a wife and three-month-old baby daughter.

Mr Iqbal, a factory worker, was walking his regular route from the family home in Woodlands Street to his own home in Leyburne Street when he was involved in an accident on Wednesday night with the white Toyota MR2.

Today his brother-in-law, Jangir Riaz, spoke of the whole family's shock.

"People can't believe how unlucky he was," he said. "He was just walking home, and it has ended up in such tragic circumstances. It seems the person driving the car lost control and, unfortunately, Mazhar was on the spot where it actually went on to the pavement. It hit him from behind - he didn't even know anything about it."

Mr Riaz said his brother-in-law had gone to Bradford College on Wednesday for his evening class in Maths and English, before visiting his family in Woodlands Street.

They had waved goodnight to him at 9.30pm and he left for the ten-minute walk home.

But later relatives were telephoned by police asking where he was, and Mr Riaz tried contacting the young father on his mobile phone.

"It just kept ringing and ringing," he said. "In the end a nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary answered it and advised us to come immediately."

Mr Iqbal had suffered serious head injuries and was on a life support machine.

He had lost a lot of blood and despite two blood transfusions, died at 5pm yesterday, with members of his family by his bedside.

"We were hoping he would recover from it but at the hospital they told us he had bad head injuries, and his chances weren't good," Mr Riaz said.

"Mazhar was a very quiet, very gentle person," he added. "He had a very good character and didn't have a bad word to say about anyone. We are all still in shock, and his wife is very depressed."

l Police have arrested two men in connection with the accident and are appealing for witnesses to the crash on the corner of Whetley Hill and Grandage Terrace. Anyone with information is asked to call 0845 6060606 and ask for Bradford North road traffic department.