IN THE NEWS
100s MOURN ‘GENTLEST SOUL’ PH DRIVER AS COUNCIL PLEDGES ACTION AFTER FATAL BOLTON CRASH
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Blackburn last month to bid a final farewell to Masrob Ali, the 54-year- old private hire driver killed in a horrific head-on collision that claimed four lives and left five others injured. The funeral at Masjid-e-Sajedeen was attended by an estimated 600 people, with friends and relatives travelling from across the UK to honour the father-of-four. Mr. Ali died in the early hours of Sunday,
January 11, when his
Citroen C4 Picasso was struck by a Seat Leon on Wigan Road in Bolton. Three teenagers in the Seat - Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali (19), Farhan Patel (18), and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar (18) - also perished at the scene. Their joint funeral was held in Bolton. Mr. Ali, who emigrated from Bangladesh at age 12, was described by his eldest daughter, Humayra, as “the gentlest soul” and a devoted professional who took pride in road safety. “Nobody has a bad word to say against him, he was so kind and the best dad,” Humayra said. “Dad was such a safe driver and even when we said we were worried something might happen he would say ‘don’t worry about me’.” A spokesperson for the Masjid Al-
committed to ensuring all
necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents occurring again.” The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the regional taxi industry. Shaz Malik, chair of the Chorley Taxi Association, called the incident a “stark reminder” of the daily risks faced by professional drivers.
Momineen mosque added: “He was a familiar and comforting presence in our mosque - a man of few words, but immense character... He leaves behind a space that feels noticeably emptier.” As the community mourns, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are investigating the circum- stances of the crash. Detectives are reportedly probing video footage circulated online showing the Seat Leon travelling at speeds of up to 122mph in suburban areas just 24 hours before the fatal impact. Bolton Council has responded to the tragedy by pledging to take “all necessary measures” to prevent future loss of life. Councillor Rabiya Jiva, executive cabinet member for stronger communities, stated: “Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those affected by
this unimaginable loss. [The council is] 14 FEBRUARY 2026 PHTM
“No rush, no thrill, no moment of showing off can ever be worth that kind of loss,” Mr. Malik said. “When you press the accelerator, think about the people who love you... Driving just ten miles per hour faster can be the difference between stopping in time or not stopping at all.” Five passengers remain affected by the crash, including a 29-year- old woman with potentially life-threatening injuries. A surviving teenager from the Seat Leon attended the funerals earlier this week in a wheelchair. GMP continues to appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage. They have strictly urged the public to refrain from sharing graphic CCTV of the collision on social media out of respect for the grieving families. All at PHTM offer our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of those affected by this tragic incident.
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