Tree crash minicab driver had heart attack, inquest told
The site of the accident and Mohammed Latif
A minicab driver who crashed his cab into a tree suffered a heart attack at the wheel, an inquest has heard.
Mohammed Latif suffered serious head injuries following the early-morning smash, Teesside Coroner’s Court was told.
The court heard it was “very likely” the 46-year-old dad-of-three lost control of his minicab following a heart attack at the wheel.
Mr Latif was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash on November 10, 2011.
But Dr Edward Carling, who carried out the post-mortem examination, said Mr Latif was “either dead, or close to death” when he crashed into the tree.
Mr Latif was driving his minicab, a silver Vauxhall Vectra, along Park Road, Middlesbrough, when it left the carriageway and collided with a street sign and a large tree at around 2.20am.
A statement from a passing taxi driver, who was the first on the scene and called the emergency services, was read out to the court.
The statement said: “I talked to the driver. The driver didn’t respond to my voice or touch.”
Police, the fire brigade and the ambulance service attended the scene and helped get Mr Latif out of his car.
He was taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital, but medical staff were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The court was told that two weeks prior to his death Mr Latif had suffered from back pain.
It also heard that two days before he died, Mr Latif went to hospital complaining of chest pains.
He underwent an ECG - a heart check - but no abnormalities were found.
A statement from GP Dr Kevin Chatterjee said he pronounced Mr Latif as “fit” following a full medical on September 24, 2010.
PC Martin Tramner told the court he was “satisfied” no-one else was involved in the incident and that the road and weather conditions were good.
Assistant deputy Teesside coroner Clare Bailey recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.
Mr Latif’s family were too distressed to speak following the inquest, but at the time they paid tribute to Mr Latif - known as Latty - saying he was “well-liked and loved by all who knew him”.
They said: “He had a heart of gold and would help everyone he could, giving them great support.
“Latty was a caring, devoted father to his three children and a rock to his wife, Tarzeem.”
Read more: Gazette Live
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... z2QuAy9Gas
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