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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Damon Wilkinson

Horror crash which killed three men happened after car drove wrong way down A1

Police say a crash in which three men died took place after a car was inexplicably driven the wrong way down a motorway.

Adil Hussain, 25, and his front seat passenger Mohammed Riyajudin, 39, both from Manchester, were killed after their BMW was involved in a three car pile-up on the A1 in Cambridgeshire in the early hours of Sunday.

VW Golf driver Craig Hewitt, 34, was also killed in the smash.

Police say it's believed the crash took place after the Golf had been 'travelling the wrong way down the carriageway for unknown reasons'.

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A third vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery, was also involved.

Two other men, believed to have been travelling with Mr Hussain and Mr Riyajudin, also received serious injuries and remain in hospital.

In tribute Mr Hewitt's family said he was a 'loving father, son, brother and friend to many'.

It's understood the four Manchester men were travelling home after attending a celebration at a mosque in North London.

In a tribute, North Manchester Jame Masjid in Cheetham Hill said Mr Riyajudin was a 'world renowned' Qari and a father-of-two.

The statement added: "He was returning to Manchester after attending a Naat Mehfil (a celebration) at Masjid e Quba in London and passed away in a horrific car accident.

"Qari Riyazuddin Ashrafi travelled from India to spread the word of Allah and His Beloved Prophet Mohammed Mustafa and devoted his entire life in the Khidmat of Deen.

"He was a Hafiz (a Muslim who knows the Quran by heart) and Qari who touched the hearts of millions with his sweet and beautiful recitation of the Quran in different parts of the world.

"He ignited the love of the Beloved Prophet through his melodious recitation of Naats (poetry in praise of the Islamic prophet Muhammad).

"Qari Riyazuddin leaves behind his elderly widowed mother, wife and 2 young children aged 6yrs old and an 18 month baby along with 8 siblings residing in a village near Bikaner in the Indian state of Rajasthan."

Police are appealing for witnesses, dashcam footage or anyone who saw the vehicles in the moments leading up to the incident at about 1am on the A1 northbound carriageway, near Wothorpe.

Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact police via web chat, online forms or call 101 quoting incident 24 of January 16.

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