1,300 say Goodbye to taxi driver

1,300 say Goodbye to taxi driver
Friends pay tribute to Mohammed Nawaz
Hundreds of people have mourned a taxi driver who was killed while trying to fix a flat tyre on the A421.

Mohammed Nawaz, 43, of Armstong Drive in Bedford, died of multiple injuries after being in collision with a van on the bypass near Great Barford last Friday.

Over 1,300 paid their last respects to the father-of-one at the Jamia Masjid Gulshan Baghdad Mosque in Westbourne Road, Queens Park, on Monday.

His funeral ceremony was held on the same day that an inquest into his death was opened.

Two days later his wife Tazeem, 40, and son Safi, 21, flew back to Pakistan with his body for an official Muslim burial ceremony.

Asif Nadim, Mr Nawaz's friend of 27 years, said: "He was a charismatic, hardworking, popular and humble man, who was known by people from all walks of life.

"He was a smiler and was always laughing. Even at his funeral ceremony, he still had a smile on his face."

The chairman of the mosque added: "He loved his family and was most at home with them.

"He also loved travelling, and we often took family holidays together so I have many great memories.

"Everyone who met him was infected by his personality. I will miss him very much."

Another friend, Khalid Mahmood, 45, of Laburnum Avenue, Queens Park, said: "It was unbelievable the number of people who turned up for Mohammed.

"The whole mosque and road was packed for him and this shows how much he was loved.

"He was a great, kind guy who supported and donated to many charities.

"It is still hard to believe he is gone."

Mr Nawaz, a self-employed taxi driver, was travelling west from the A1 Black Cat roundabout towards Bedford, when the accident happened at around 12.55pm.

Driving a black Peugeot saloon, he had pulled over on the hard shoulder after a tyre puncture.

His brother, who was following in a black Mercedes, stopped behind to help.

Mr Nawaz had got out of his cab, and was walking alongside the two vehicles when the collision occured with a white Ford box van.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after unsuccessful resuscitation attempts by paramedics.

Gary Sanderson, spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service, who attended the incident said: "One of our emergency ambulances was travelling in the same direction when the collision occurred and was on the scene within seconds.

"But sadly the gentleman was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Our thoughts are firmly with friends and families of those involved in this tragic collision."

Two other men – including the van driver, from Hampshire – were taken to Bedford Hospital South Wing with minor injuries.

Bedfordshire Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the accident.