Father of six among victims of horrific Birmingham crash

CRASH investigators are trying to piece together what caused a collision in Birmingham that killed six, as one of the victims was named as a loving father.

Three men were killed when they were thrown out of their car while a black cab driver and his two passengers, a man and woman, died after the vehicle was left on its side.

A fourth man travelling in the car remains in a critical condition at the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The taxi driver, named locally as Imtiaz Mohammed, had six children all aged under 15 and was described by a cousin as “caring” and “hardworking”.

One of his children had been due to celebrate their birthday today.

Liaqat Ali, his cousin, said: “He was a very nice guy, caring and hardworking.”

Debbie Ormsby, in a statement on behalf of Castle Cars cab company, said: “Imtiaz was a wonderful young hardworking family man.

“We were shocked and devastated to learn this morning that it was Imtiaz who lost his life in the serious road traffic collision which had been reported by our drivers in the early hours of Sunday.

“He was loved and respected by all who worked with him and he will be greatly missed.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all the other families affected by this tragedy.’’

Police said they are following various lines of investigation, including the condition of the road when the crash happened at Belgrave and Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston, at the junction of Bristol Road, shortly after 1am on Sunday.

Superintendent Sean Phillips, from West Midlands Police, said: “It is way too early to speculate on the causes of the accident.

“It will take some time to unpick the scene and just understand exactly what’s happened. It would be unfair for me to speculate at this time.”

He confirmed the road had been gritted at 5pm the previous Wreckageatthesceneof thecrashinBirmingham, which left six people dead and a seventh person critically injured. Centre: victim Imtiaz Mohammed evening. Asked about the speeds the vehicles were travelling at, and whether all of those involved were wearing seatbelts, Mr Phillips said those will be issues considered during the police investigation.