Driver drove straight at railings

A YOUNG driver who died after crashing a car straight into railings did not try to brake or turn to avoid the crash, an inquest heard.

Four passengers inside the vehicle were hurt in the Belgrave Middleway collision in Birmingham.

Qasim Mahmood, 25, suffered an “unsurvivable” head injury when he veered off the carriageway and crashed a hired Hyundai Ioniq into a metal barrier at around 10.40pm on July 17.

The security officer, who was trapped in the driver’s seat, was given CPR at the roadside and rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s major trauma centre.

He died the next day. An inquest this week heard Mr Mahmood, from Smethwick should not have been driving as he was disqualified and had neither insurance, or permission, to drive the relative’s hire car.

Though police said the driver was “clearly distracted by external factors” at the time of the crash, mystery still surrounds the exact reason for the collision, Birmingham coroner’s court heard.

Police were unable to confirm why he “did not try to avoid” the collision.

A can of nitrous oxide was found in the car, which the court was told can cause “disorientation”, but officers were unable to confirm if this was used before the crash. None of the passengers, who suffered minor injuries, appeared to have worn seatbelts and though all four were contacted by police, none could “recall” what happened, the inquest heard.

CCTV footage showed Mr Mahmood undertake another driver at traffic lights before crashing straight into the metal barrier.

Concluding, area coroner Emma Brown said: “No attempt was made to avoid the collision, it has not been established what would cause Mr Mahmood to drive in such a manner.

“I conclude his death was as a result of a road traffic collision.”