Speeding driver jailed for fatal motorway crash that killed 12-year-old girl
Hannah Jones, 26, from Mirfield, was sentenced to 18 months behind bars at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday 15 March. She pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and perverting the course of justice on the first day of her trial in December.
Safeer Iqbal, 32, from Dewsbury, who was a passenger in the same car, got eight months for perverting the course of justice after admitting his role earlier.
Fatal crash on M61
The tragedy happened on 6 July 2019, around 10.45pm on the northbound M61 near Chorley. Jones was hurtling along in a Vauxhall Corsa at about 90mph when she slammed into the back of a Nissan Qashqai. The Qashqai carried several members of the same family returning from a family event.
Among them was 12-year-old Sana Patel from Blackburn, sitting in the rear of the Qashqai. The violent crash threw her from the vehicle as it flipped over. Despite desperate CPR efforts by bystanders, Sana tragically died at the scene.
Driver fled, then lied to cops
Jones and Iqbal immediately fled the scene, scrambling up the motorway embankment and later hiding out in a nearby hotel. The next day, Jones was arrested at a Mirfield address while Iqbal handed himself in at Preston police station.
Both initially blamed Iqbal for driving, claiming Jones was just a passenger. But in January 2020, Iqbal confessed he had agreed to take the blame and admitted he was actually the passenger.
Jones kept denying she was driving. However, police uncovered deleted texts on her phone proving otherwise. Experts also testified that Jones’ injuries matched those expected on the driver’s side, including damage from the seatbelt and steering wheel airbag deployment.
Family left devastated
“We have still not recovered from the loss of our daughter. She was taken from us in an unimaginably violent and sudden way. Our hearts are left with this giant hole and a light has been extinguished in our life,” said Sana’s mother in a heartbreaking victim impact statement.
“We as a family will suffer from this tragedy for the rest of our lives and miss Sana every single day.”
Police tribute and public heroics
Sgt Marc Glass of Lancashire’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit described the scene as one of the worst he has ever witnessed. He added: “Jones and Iqbal fled rather than checking on those involved. Their lies delayed the police investigation and prolonged the family’s suffering.”
He also praised the members of the public who rushed to give first aid to Sana and assisted the family after the crash. The investigation team was also commended for their dedication in uncovering the truth.
