Heartbroken mother ran one-and-a-half miles from home to crash scene where her eight-year-old son was run over by ‘grinning’ killer biker while crossing the road – then collapsed in the street when she found him dead
- Mustafa Ahmed, eight, was killed while holding his father’s hand across the road
A mother ran one-and-a-half miles from her home to the crash scene where her eight-year-old son was run over – before collapsing in the street when she found him dead.
Mustafa Ahmed, eight, was killed while holding his father’s hand as they tried to use a pedestrian crossing on the way to a mosque in Plumstead, east London, on February 19.
Unlicensed and uninsured Nicholas Hopkins, 20, ploughed into the family – including Mustafa’s 11-year-old brother Ahmed – on his motorcycle, throwing the youngest several yards into the road before he died at the scene.
His mother Heyfa Akubar, 43, ran from Woolwich Dockyard all the way to Greenwich Islamic Centre after hearing Mustafa had been hit by the bike.
Family friend Swaleh Bocus said he saw Ms Akubar rushing through the police cordon and collapsing to the ground in a state of despair.
‘She had seen her son’s things, she knew he had died. She just fell down and collapsed and the officers and paramedics surrounded her to comfort her,’ he told The Mirror.
Mustafa Ahmed, eight, (right) was killed while holding his father Mohamed Mao’s hand alongside his 11-year-old brother Ahmed in east London on February 19
Mustafa was thrown several yards into the road before he died at the scene in east London
‘She didn’t stand up for nearly half an hour, she was just crying. They said ”leave her! Don’t run to her! She’s the mum!” She could see the boy.’
Hopkins pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Inner London Crown Court last week – with a mugshot released by police showing him grinning.
Mustafa’s father Mohamed Mao, 49, a bus driver, endured serious head injuries and a smashed hip during the incident, leaving him in a coma for weeks.
He still uses the same Islamic centre but has to be taken by car, while Ms Akubar prays at a different mosque.
Mohamed said: ‘The children and my wife don’t want to stay in the house,’ he said. ‘There are too many memories.’
Asked how Mustafa’s brother Ahmed has recovered, Mohamed said: ‘He’s recovered but not perfectly. He likes to be alone, he’s quiet all the time.’
Nicholas Hopkins, 20, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Inner London Crown Court last week – with a mugshot released by police showing him grinning
Swaleh and Mohamed are helping a campaign to urge Greenwich Council to make road changes to the spot where Mustafa was killed.
A council spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Mustafa Ahmed and by the serious injuries caused to his other family members. Immediately after the incident we met with representatives of the Greenwich Islamic Centre, and we have continued to do so.
‘We have been working with the Met Police as part of its investigation to help secure a conviction. An individual has been charged with several offences including causing death by dangerous driving.
‘The Police have not suggested that there were any issues with the highway that could have prevented this tragic loss of life. While there are no measures that will ever fully protect the public from anyone who chooses to drive recklessly and illegally as a borough, we are committed to Vision Zero: for all deaths and serious injuries from road collisions to be eliminated from our streets.
‘Alongside Transport for London (TfL) we have identified steps we could take to make the road safer – such as refreshing road markings and as part of our upcoming review alongside all other roads in the borough, will consider introducing a 20 mile per hour speed limit.’
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