A loving father and respected businessman, Hizar Hanif, 32, died instantly after his BMW was rear-ended at 90mph by Mohammed Ali on Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, in February 2024. The collision triggered an eight-vehicle pileup, leaving others seriously injured.
Mr. Hanif was a passenger in his own vehicle, driven by his best friend Waqar Sadiq, on their way to deliver a suit ahead of Sadiq’s upcoming wedding, where Mr. Hanif was set to be the best man. The impact hurled the BMW into oncoming traffic, striking Balvinder Bhogal’s car. Ms. Bhogal suffered severe injuries, including broken ribs and spinal trauma, and had to be freed from her wrecked vehicle.
Ali, 27, from Birchfield, Birmingham, had been driving erratically before the crash. Just minutes earlier, he collided with another car and ran a red light while speeding dangerously. Court evidence revealed Ali was experiencing a relapse of schizophrenia, worsened after he chose to delay a crucial depot injection so he could undertake a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. This decision significantly impaired his mental state, leading to hallucinations and delusions in the days before the crash.
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Following the collision, Ali behaved violently toward responding officers, including hurling homophobic abuse, kicking, and spitting. His mental health condition had deteriorated, with reports of erratic and dangerous behaviour—such as trying to burn a Quran and confront hospital staff—before being detained under the Mental Health Act.
Ali admitted to causing Mr. Hanif’s death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury, and assaulting an emergency worker. On April 17, 2024, Birmingham Crown Court sentenced him to seven years in prison and imposed a driving ban lasting four years and six months after release.
The court heard emotional testimonies from Mr. Hanif’s family and close friends, highlighting the profound and ongoing impact of his loss. His wife, Kiran Khanum, described losing her soulmate and the father of their young son, while his father and siblings mourned a positive role model suddenly taken away.
Judge Sarah Buckingham underscored the tragedy of Mr. Hanif being a passenger that night due to fatigue and praised evidence showing the violent force of the crash. She acknowledged Ali’s mental health struggles but emphasized his choice to prioritize pilgrimage over treatment was a key factor in the tragedy.
This harrowing case serves as a stark reminder of how untreated mental health issues and dangerous driving can have devastating consequences for innocent lives.