IN THE NEWS
HUNDREDS LINE STREET FOR FUNERAL OF ‘KIND AND GENTLE’ BRADFORD PHV DRIVER KILLED IN TRAGIC CRASH
Family and friends gathered for the funeral of private hire driver, Sohail Ali, who died in a horror crash on the M606 near Bradford. ExaminerLive reports that mourners gathered on Thursday 16 June, to remember Sohail, 28, who was on his way to Huddersfield at 10.45pm on Monday 13 June to drop off a customer he had picked up in Bradford. His private hire vehicle was hit head-on by a Ford Transit van being driven the wrong way on the M606 after it had failed to stop for police. Due to the nature of the incident West Yorkshire Police has informed the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The collision also claimed the life of Sohail’s passenger, Simon McHugh, 49, from Huddersfield a head chef at Jury’s Inn, Bradford and Kyden Leadbeater, 18, a passenger in the Ford Transit. Sohail worked for Zip, a taxi firm based in Tong Street, Bradford, alongside his father and an uncle. Ken Ives, a director at Zip Taxis, said: “Myself and everyone at Zip are in complete shock at what has happened to Sohail, one of our most popular drivers and friend to many. “Our sincere condolences go to his family. Sohail’s Dad and Uncle, Ansur and Amjad also work at Zip. Words cannot express how we are feeling. Our thoughts are also with the family of Simon and all at Jury’s Inn. Both will be sorely missed.” Sohail had previously worked as a driver
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for Arrivals Cars, a taxi firm in Shipley, Bradford. On Tuesday a worker at Arrivals told YorkshireLive: “He was a very good lad and will be missed by the community. “He was a very hard worker and a very good driver. A few people have been ringing up and sending condolences. It is shocking more than anything. He was just doing his job.” Hundreds attended his funeral which at the Jamia Masjid Hanfia in Manning- ham, Bradford, with a burial service at Scholemoor Cemetery. Sohail’s uncle, Amar Khan, described him as a kind and helpful person who loved his job and enjoyed helping his customers. “He was young, enthusiastic, happy, kind and gentle. He had many cousins and relatives who always looked up to him. He was a friend to all of them.” He added: “From a young age, all his customers would ask for Sohail to pick them up. He really enjoyed helping the elderly and would take their shopping into their house. He loved it and all his customers loved him. “He was calm and made people feel comfortable with his presence. “He was a beautiful soul.” One friend of Mr Ali paid tribute online writing: “Rest in peace Sohail brother one of the most down to earth lads I’ve met and defo the best cabbie about.” Another wrote: “Can’t get my head around it. If you knew Sohail you know he was one of the best lads around! Till we meet again brother fly high.”
Scores of other tributes were left online. Paul Edward Clay said: “Sohail was a really nice guy who picked me and my family up a number of times. RIP Sohail. RIP to the passenger. My condolences to both men’s families at this most difficult of times.”
Susan Smith described him as “one of the nicest politest young taxi drivers I have ever known”. Sohail had grown up in the Manning- ham area of Bradford and had lived just off White Abbey Road in Bradford. He was the eldest of four and had two brothers and one sister. The suspected driver of the van, a 15-year-old boy, was arrested by police on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He suffered serious injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening. Inquests have opened into the deaths by senior Bradford Coroner Martin Fleming at Bradford Coroners’ Court. All at PHTM offer our sincere condo- lences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Ali at this very sad time.
JULY 2022
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