Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A father whose daughter was killed in a car crash because she did not have a seat belt on has been spared court action because he has “suffered enough”, police have said.
Ahmed Hussain, 35, was driving his family home after a day out in Bradford when he lost control of his car, causing it to skid and flip over before crashing upside-down on top of another car.
His six-year-old daughter, Aleeza, was in a booster seat in the back of the car but did not have her seatbelt on and was thrown from the car near the M60.
She suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene after the accident on July 26, an inquest heard.
Mr Hussain and his wife, Sobia Sultana, who was five-months pregnant at the time, were both seriously injured but survived the crash. Their unborn baby also survived, and has since been born.
Officers were investigating Mr Hussain for failing to ensure his daughter was wearing her seatbelt in the car but has been spared prosecution due to “public sympathy”.
Sgt Mark Thomas said: “I believe that speed was a factor in this instance, but excessive speed was not.
“While it is an offence to leave a child under 14 without a seat belt, it was simply not in the public interest to prosecute somebody who has suffered so much.
“The likelihood of possible prosecution was considered, but it was believed that the public would sympathise with Mr Hussain in this particular instance."
Mr Hussain, a catalogue company worker from Oldham, described his daughter as a “giggly”, smiley “princess”, and a “fantastic daughter.
He told the Stockport hearing he had “absolutely no recollection” of putting Aleeza into her booster seat and strapping her in.
He said: “I don’t remember anything about the journey, about the accident, or about my hospital stay. I just remember going to see Aleeza after it happened and she was just lying there like she was asleep.
“I honestly thought she would wake up.”
Following the tragedy, scores of people reportedly claimed to have lost control of their vehicles on the same stretch of road.
According to the Manchester Evening News, a Stockport Coroner John Pollard said he would advise Stockport Council to install a crash barrier between the two carriageways.
"A contributor to the severity of her injuries undoubtedly came from that she was not properly belted in," he said.
“I would urge very, very strongly parents of young children to always ensure they are in proper fitted child seats.
“If a barrier were in place at this junction it has a very good chance of preventing the severity of incidents. That might have prevented this. It needs to be looked at very carefully.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments