Taxi Driver Describes Fatal Collision with Pedestrian on M602 Motorway

A tearful taxi driver recounted the harrowing moment he hit a man on the motorway, who later died from his injuries. Ghulum Murtaza, a private hire driver, was speaking at an inquest into the death of 30-year-old Benjamin Connor. The incident occurred on December 28, 2021, on the M602 in Salford, when Connor walked into oncoming traffic, leading to a fatal collision.

Driver's Tearful Account

Ghulum Murtaza described the moment he struck Mr. Connor in his Renault Megane. He recalled that Connor "all of a sudden came in front of my car" from the central reservation.

Murtaza stated:

"I tried to avoid him, but it was a fraction of a second."

He continued by explaining his immediate reaction after the collision:

"I thought another motorist was going to run him over again, so I stopped the car then ran over to him, picked him up and put him down on the central reservation."

Murtaza also spoke about his distress after the accident, stating:

"The next morning, it came to my knowledge that Mr. Connor had passed away. It was quite tough. I was quite traumatised. I did not sleep for weeks. This whole thing has changed my life."

The Inquest and Investigation

The inquest heard that Benjamin Connor was walking into oncoming traffic near the Regent Road roundabout when the incident occurred. Murtaza was driving without passengers during the early hours of the morning. Despite Murtaza’s attempt to avoid the collision, CCTV evidence showed that Connor moved "quickly and suddenly" into the path of the car. Investigators concluded that Murtaza likely had insufficient time and distance to respond.

Witness Craig Brown, who observed the scene, said:

"I saw Mr. Connor in the middle of the road walking with his arms inside a top he was wearing to keep warm."

Brown also stated that Connor appeared to be walking steadily and did not seem intoxicated.

Police and Circumstances Surrounding the Incident

Earlier on the same night, police had detained Mr. Connor at a house in Rusholme, Manchester, after reports of him being armed with a knife and refusing to leave. Following the detainment, Connor was de-arrested and dropped off at Cornbrook Metrolink station, about two hours before the collision occurred. Police reportedly believed he "didn’t pose a risk to himself," but his family criticized the decision to release him.

Benjamin Connor’s mother expressed her shock and confusion over the police's actions, writing to the coroner's court:

"I want to know how and why the police let my son go on that night as it was evident that he was in no fit state to be left alone."

She further commented on the distressing situation:

"I can't understand why he was not locked up. Dumped at Cornbrook station with no money, phone, or transport at Christmas. Our family is broken."

Medical Findings and Toxicology Report

Tests conducted after the collision revealed traces of alcohol and cannabis in Mr. Connor's urine and blood. He was taken to Salford Royal Hospital after the crash but passed away from his injuries. Despite initial assessments that Connor wasn’t intoxicated at the time of the collision, the toxicology results suggested the substances in his system could have affected his judgment and behavior.

The Jury's Verdict

The jury at Bolton Coroners' Court, after reviewing all evidence, praised Ghulum Murtaza for his bravery in trying to assist Mr. Connor after the incident. Despite the tragic outcome, Murtaza’s actions were commended by both the jury and the coroner.

The jury also heard that no other cars stopped to assist Mr. Connor in the immediate aftermath of the collision, further highlighting the driver’s valiant efforts in a distressing situation.