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16 Jul, 2025
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WATCH: Boxing Day crash sparked 'huge fireball' that left family trapped in burning vehicle
@Source: expressandstar.com
Mohammed Ibrahim, 25, smashed into a quad bike while racing at 84mph in a 30mph zone before ploughing head on into a MG ZS on Boxing Day 2023. A court heard the horrific collision sparked a huge fireball as both vehicles caught alight and left terrified members of a family trapped in their burning vehicle. Footage shows the scene of the collision, with plumes of smoke bellowing from the high flames. Ibrahim then callously fled the area leaving behind Amanda Riley, 49, and Linda Philips, 72, to die at the scene on East Meadway, Shard End, Birmingham. Three other family members were also injured but survived after being pulled from the flaming wreckage by heroic members of the public. Ibrahim, of Sheldon, Birmingham, previously pleaded guilty to two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and three of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was jailed for 13 years and three months and banned from the roads for 18 years and nine months at Birmingham Crown Court today (Wed). Sentencing, Judge Paul Farrer KC, said: "You intended to go straight on and should have positioned yourself in the middle lane. You overtook stationary vehicles and did so at speeds of between 80 and 84mph. The car had five passengers. "Their car was struck with extreme force, causing it to spin and burst into flames. The occupants were unable to get out and had it not been for the bravery of members of the public, who went to their assistance, they might have all died at the scene. "Instead they were pulled from the burning vehicle. The harm that you caused is incalculable. You failed to stop and left the scene in circumstances when you must have known that you had caused a catastrophic accident." The judge also awarded £300 to Stephen Bates who he said had been "courageous" and "may well have saved three lives." Philip Vollans, prosecuting, said the crash involved four generations of the same family and that Laura Riley had been driving her family away from a Boxing Day get-together at her aunt's home at around 8pm. She approached a junction and slowed down for the lights. Ibrahim had been seen driving at "significant speed" as he approached the junction from the opposite direction. Mr Vollans said "Before being seen the defendant had already over took a Nissan causing a driver to pull over due to his speed. He had been driving in convoy with another BMW. "Both cars were speeding and both cars were racing, undertaking other vehicles as they did. The defendant was the faster driver of the two. "This went on for about half a mile. At the junction Ibrahim took the right hand lane at which point he struck a quad bike which had jumped a red light causing the bike to roll. CCTV showed that he had been driving at an average of between 80 and 84 mph. The front near side wheel of the BMW collided with the kerb of the central reservation." Mr Vollans said Ibrahim then continued on the opposite side of the road and added: "At that stage there was a head on collision with Miss Riley's vehicle. She did not have time to react at all. "Miss Riley described a tremendous impact as the car struck and rebounded. It is at this stage the car was set on fire. He said that Miss Riley's seat belt had jammed and that her grandfather, who had recently undergone surgery to his right shoulder, was also unable to free himself." He added: "Passengers were understandably distressed. Panic ensued." He said the defendant was seen lying on the ground next to his vehicle and that he was later treated at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital for a leg injury. Mr Vollans added: "At that stage the BMW had also set on fire and emergency services also attended. "It is unfortunately the case that Amanda Riley and Linda Philips passed away at the scene. "Both cars were completely destroyed as a result of the collision. Mr Vollans said the quadbike rider also fled the scene and has never been traced and that others had taken the bike away. In a statement Linda's husband George Philips said "Linda was my wife, best friend and soul mate. We had been married for 51 years and had two beautiful daughters together. Our family was the centre of our world. I saw the car coming towards us at speed and it piled straight into us. "The aftermath was the complete devastation of my family. I could hear Laura screaming get out the car. I did not even get the chance to say good-bye to them. My world has fallen apart." Jasvir Mann, defending, said: "The actions of the quad bike definitely contributed to what happened. "He (the defendant) accepts driving at grossly excessive speed. He had only just turned 23 at the time of the offence and he has no criminal antecedent history. "He has lead a very positive life and there is ample evidence of that." In a statement released in the weeks after their deaths, the family said: "Linda and Amanda, mother and daughter, were cruelly taken from us on Boxing Day. Linda was a beautiful and dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, auntie and so much more. "Her husband, children, grandchildren and family loved Linda very much, and Linda absolutely adored her family. Amanda was a beautiful and much-loved mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and auntie. "Amanda's parents, daughters, and grandchildren loved her so much, and Amanda was the apple of her grandchildren's eye." Neelam Shafiq, of the Crown Prosecution Service said after the case: "Ibrahim Mohammed made a choice to get behind the wheel of his car and drive dangerously on a residential street without any consideration for others. "His reckless actions resulted in the untimely deaths of a much-loved mother and daughter and has caused unimaginable pain for their family. Nothing can undo the tragedy suffered by the family of Linda Phillips and Amanda Riley and we extend our sympathies to them. "We hope this sentence sends a clear message that dangerous driving will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law."
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