A tragic head-on collision in Bolton, Greater Manchester, claimed the lives of four individuals and left five others injured in the early hours of Sunday, January 11th. The incident involved a Citroen C4 Picasso taxi and a red Seat Leon, which was reportedly travelling on the wrong side of Wigan Road.

Among those killed was Masrob Ali, a 54-year-old taxi driver from Blackburn. His family described him as "the gentlest soul" and "the kindest man," emphasizing that he was not at fault for the crash. Masrob Ali, who emigrated from Bangladesh to Britain 42 years ago at the age of 12, was deeply devoted to his wife Husna and their four children: Humayra (29), a son (26), a daughter (21), and a youngest son (13). He was known for his hard work and self-taught skills, having built his own house in Blackburn, near his mosque, doing all the DIY himself. His eldest daughter, Humayra, recounted seeing her father leave for work on Saturday, January 10th, at 5:16 PM, never to return.

The collision occurred around 12:45 AM to 12:50 AM. Humayra, against police advice, watched CCTV footage of the crash, which confirmed her father was not at fault and the Seat Leon was on the wrong side of the road. She expressed her profound grief, stating, "I just can’t get my head round the fact that he’ll never walk back through the door. I keep thinking it’s just a horrible dream and I’m going to wake up and none of this is real."

The three teenagers in the Seat Leon who also died were formally identified as Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar (18), Farhan Patel (18), and Mohammed Danyaal (19). Their families, along with Masrob Ali's, are being supported by specially-trained officers.

Five passengers sustained injuries and remain in hospital. From Masrob Ali's taxi, a 29-year-old woman suffered potentially life-threatening injuries, a 28-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man were seriously injured, and a 29-year-old man sustained minor injuries. The sole survivor from the Seat Leon, an 18-year-old man, is also being treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is in the early stages of a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Detective Inspector Andrew Page of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit urged anyone who witnessed the crash or the driving of the Seat beforehand to come forward. A critical part of the probe involves video footage, widely shared on social media, showing a driver in what is believed to be the Seat Leon travelling at speeds exceeding 120 mph on a built-up street, weaving through traffic and veering onto the wrong side of the road, approximately 24 hours before the fatal collision. Police have cautioned the public against sharing such footage due to the impact on the grieving families.

The family of Masrob Ali is currently facing delays in holding his funeral, as Islamic tradition dictates burial within 24 hours, but the ongoing police investigation has prevented this. Relatives from across the UK and the wider Muslim community are offering extensive support to the heartbroken family. Anyone with information is asked to contact police directly on 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 111 of 11/01/2025, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.