The Scotsman

Taxi-driving father-of-six among six killed in ‘harrowing’ multiple car smash

● Three men thrown from their car also among the dead

- By AINE FOX

Six people including a father-of-six have died in a multi-car pile-up that police have described as “very harrowing”.

Three men were killed when they were thrown from their car at Belgrave and Lee Bank Middleway, near Edgbaston in Birmingham, at the junction of Bristol Road shortly after 1am yesterday.

A black cab driver, named locally as Imtiaz Mohammed, and his two passengers, a man and a woman, also died after the taxi was left on its side.

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

Mr Mohammed, who leaves behind six children aged under 15, was described by a cousin as “caring” and “hardworkin­g”. One of his children had been due to celebrate their birthday today.

Cousin Liaqat Ali said: “He was a very nice guy, caring and hard-working.”

Mr Mohammed worked for local firm Castle Cars.

Debbie Ormsby said on behalf of the company: “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 ... he was loved and respected by all who worked with him.”

Police said they were following various lines of investigat­ion, including the condition of the road when the crash happened.

Superinten­dent Sean Phillips, of West Midlands Police, said: “It is way too early to

0 The aftermath of the devastatin­g crash near Edgbaston in Birmingham shortly after 1am yesterday were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash are among details still to be determined.

The Ambulance Service, which sent five ambulances and three paramedics to the scene, said it was astonishin­g that a man and woman in the first car were able to escape with minor injuries despite “extensive damage” to their vehicle.

Three other cars collided as they tried to avoid the crash at the entrance to an underpass. Two people from those vehicles were taken to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital with minor injuries.

Police are working to contact the families of those involved.

Forty firefighte­rs helped in the aftermath of the “horrific” crash.

Images of the devastatio­n in the aftermath of the crash have been shared online and Supt Phillips urged people to send those pictures to the police rather than posting them on the internet.

He said: “It’s a harrowing scene. There are families involved, these are real people involved. It is very distressin­g for everyone. To share images that would portray something that is perhaps unwelcome for the families and unhelpful for the investigat­ion at this time, I would urge people not to do that.

“I would urge them to contact police and share it with West Midlands Police.”

The main road remained closed yesterday but was due to reopen in time for this morning’s rush hour.

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