🔴 ‘STREET RACING’ BROTHER CLAIMS MUD CAUSED FATAL CRASH

Abubakr Ben Yusaf, 30, and his brother Umar Ben Yusaf, 34, both of Esmond Road, Manchester, are standing trial at Mold Crown Court. They deny causing the death of Rhys Jenkins, 41, by dangerous driving, as well as causing serious injury to Mr Jenkins’ nine-year-old son Ioan and driving while uninsured.

The crash happened on the A483 near Welshpool, Powys, on the evening of 16 November 2024. Mr Jenkins, a rugby referee and father of two from Deuddw, was driving a Toyota Yaris with his son in the passenger seat when his vehicle was struck head-on by a BMW X3 driven by Abubakr Yusaf. Mr Jenkins died at the scene. Ioan was airlifted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool with serious injuries.

Prosecution case

Opening the case, prosecuting barrister John Philpotts said the brothers had been travelling south in separate cars — a red BMW X3 driven by Abubakr and a blue Audi S4 driven by Umar — and were “effectively a car crash waiting to happen.”

Witnesses reported both vehicles tailgating and overtaking dangerously. Van driver Ryan Jones told the court the BMW attempted to overtake him on a right-hand bend despite oncoming headlights. He said that on a following left-hand bend, Abubakr again pulled out in what Mr Philpotts described as a “desperate” manoeuvre, with Umar’s Audi close behind and “driving in the same dangerous manner.”

Mr Jones estimated the vehicles were travelling at around 70mph. On a straight stretch at Belan, he said he saw the BMW begin to fishtail, with its passenger side moving onto the verge before swerving across the carriageway into the path of Mr Jenkins’ Toyota.

“There was a collision head-on,” Mr Philpotts told the jury. “Mr Jenkins died at the scene and his son was very seriously injured. The manner in which that BMW and Audi were being driven by the defendants meant they were effectively racing. Each encouraged the other to drive aggressively, and both are responsible for the fatal collision, even though only one vehicle was directly involved.”

The court heard both defendants left the scene before returning later. They were arrested near Welshpool later that evening.

Defence evidence

Giving evidence on 11 September, Abubakr Yusaf, a locum optometrist working in west Wales at the time, denied driving dangerously. He said he had been travelling home to Manchester for a family meal with his parents, who had just returned from abroad.

He insisted he had not been aware that his brother was driving behind him and described it as “coincidence” that Umar was nearby.

“I don’t deny there were any overtakes during the journey, but it was done in a safe manner,” he told jurors. He rejected witness descriptions that he had been “driving like a d***head.”

Abubakr said his BMW had lost control because of mud on the road, not because he was travelling too fast. “I was not driving too fast. I was driving within the speed limit,” he said, denying that the car had begun to fishtail due to speed.

He described the impact as “quite a big collision” in which he hit his head and began bleeding. He told the jury he had left the scene in shock, fearing the BMW might catch fire.

“I was in a state of shock and panic. I managed to get out of the passenger door and started to walk away,” he said. “It wasn’t because I knew I had caused the crash. It was actions under shock.”

During cross-examination, Mr Philpotts asked him directly: “Is the reason you left the scene of the accident because you knew you caused it?” Abubakr replied: “No, it was actions under a state of shock.”

He added that the tragedy had “affected me very deeply,” saying: “It’s a tragedy that should never have happened. I am really sorry and remorseful. I can’t imagine what the family went through.”

Charges

Both brothers deny:

• causing death by dangerous driving
• causing serious injury by dangerous driving
• driving while uninsured

The trial continues.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.