Taxi Driver Online

Bedford Today

September 12, 2007

Taxi driver died saving friend

Inquest hears of final act of heroism

A taxi driver died as he pushed his friend out of the way of an oncoming lorry, Bedford Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday.

Mohammed Nawaz, of Armstrong Drive, Bedford, died on March 2 after he was involved in an accident on the A421 at Great Barford.

Mr Nawaz had pulled over to the side of the road to fix a burst tyre on his vehicle.

But the court heard that when he stepped into the lane of traffic he was struck by the lorry.

He managed to push his friend Mohammed Rafiq out of the road, but Mr Nawaz died at the scene from multiple injuries.

Mr Rafiq survived with three broken ribs, a punctured lung and internal bleeding.

He told the court: "I saw a lorry coming towards us. It was travelling at something like 50 to 60 miles per hour. I was scared.

"Mr Nawaz went to run, and he may have even pushed me out of the way of the vehicle as he did. Then the vehicle hit him in the back."

On the day of the accident Mr Nawaz had been taking two passengers from Biggleswade to Bedford, but suffered the burst tyre part way through the journey at around 12.17pm.

His passengers were picked up by his wife, who worked for the same cab firm.

Mr Rafiq only happened to be at the scene by chance, as he had been driving along the A421 with Mr Nawaz's brother, Mohammed Taj.

Mr Taj was looking in the boot of his car at the time of the impact and did not see the impact.

Richard Wright, senior collision investigator for Bedfordshire Police, said that the driver of the lorry, Donald McGovern, had been driving at an appropriate speed, and was travelling at 51 miles per hour at the point of impact.

Mr McGovern's claim that a tipper truck had been travelling in front of his vehicle would have meant his view of the road was blocked and he may not have seen Mr Nawaz's vehicle, the court heard.

Coroner David Morris said Mr Nawaz's death was a "tragic accident".

He recorded a verdict of death from multiple injuries due to a road traffic collision.
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Very busy stretch of road round there not somewhere i would just stop without trying to pull the vehicle clear of the road. A tragedy all the same my sypathies go out to his family

A very sad accident, my sympathies go to the family, truly a man of honour, and a mean it, no axe to grind here.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"