A fatal head-on collision in Bolton, Greater Manchester, killed a 54-year-old taxi driver and three teenagers, with five others injured
Tribute to Taxi Driver Killed in Bolton Crash
The daughter of a taxi driver who died in a head-on crash in Greater Manchester has paid tribute to her father, calling him the “gentlest soul.”
Masrob Ali, 54, died after his Citroen C4 Picasso taxi collided with a red Seat Leon on Wigan Road in Bolton in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Three teenagers in the Seat also died. On Monday, the trio was named by the force as Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, 18, Farhan Patel, 18, and Mohammed Danyaal, 19.
Ali’s daughter, Humayra Ali, 29, told BBC Manchester: “It’s absolutely devastating. We are all in shock – even in denial. I feel like it’s just a bad dream that I’m about to wake up from.”
She continued, “He was just a really good man, anyone would say so. Anyone who has known him would say he’s a kind man, very generous, has a big heart. People have come back to tell me that he had the gentlest soul, he’s hard-working, and he was very hard-working right until his last breath.”
Humayra added, “We are trying to expedite the process so that we can have the funeral as soon as possible.”
Investigation and Community Support
Chief Inspector Helen McCormick from GMP issued a statement regarding the crash in Bolton. The Bolton Council of Mosques, who named the three teenagers on Sunday, stated they are closely supporting the families of the victims.
Families are also being supported by specially-trained officers, GMP said. Five passengers from both vehicles were injured and remain in hospital.
| Injured Individuals | Age | Injury Status |
|---|---|---|
| 29-year-old woman | 29 | Potentially life-threatening |
| 28-year-old woman | 28 | Serious |
| 30-year-old man | 30 | Serious |
| 29-year-old man | 29 | Minor |
| 18-year-old man | 18 | Minor |
One woman living on Wigan Road reported being woken by a “loud bang” and saw “quite a bit of debris” on the road. She also noted a red car that was “really damaged.”
A male resident heard a “car accelerating” but did not see the crash. Footage from a nearby property posted online showed a head-on crash, with both cars and debris sent flying in different directions.
Detective Inspector Andrew Page of GMP’s serious collision investigation unit thanked first responders from the Bolton district, the road policing unit, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and the North West Ambulance Service for their hard work since the incident.
Local councillor Ayyub Patel expressed that the “community is very saddened by the tragic news,” adding that authorities should be allowed to carry out their investigations.
Anyone with information or footage of the incident is asked to contact police at 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 111 of 11/01/2026, or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
