M606 crash: timeline of events and what we know so far

Timeline of events

• At 10.45pm on Monday, June 13 a Ford Transit Van, suspected to be stolen, failed to stop for a marked roads policing unit
• It was then driven the wrong way on the M606 from Chain Bair towards Bradford, where it was involved in a head-on smash with a taxi

Police at the top of the M606 following the crash

• The M606 was closed in both directions for a number of hours while the scene was cleared, and investigation work got underway
• A referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to the circumstances of the crash
• Three people were killed in the crash – Sohail Ali, a 28-year-old taxi driver; his 49-year-old passenger Simon McHugh as well as Kyden Leadbeater, an 18-year-old passenger in the van.
• Mr Ali and Mr McHugh were pronounced dead at the scene, while Mr Leadbeater died in hospital on the morning of June 14.
• A 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
• Another passenger in the van, a 17-year-old boy, was also taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The M606 crash victims

Sohail Ali was a taxi driver from the BD8 area and has been described as a “hardworking, happy, gentle and kind individual”.

Simon McHugh was the head chef at Bradford’s Jurys Inn hotel and was described as a “gent and kind soul”.

Sohail Ali and Simon McHugh

Kyden Leadbeater was the youngest victim of the crash. It has emerged he was left fighting for his life following a horror quad crash near Skipton in September last year.

What happens next?

-Inquests will open into the three men’s deaths. No date has been set for this yet but is likely to be confirmed in the coming days.

-The IOPC’s investigation will continue

-We will learn what the next steps are in relation to the arrested 15-year-old boy