RESIDENTS have spoken of a tragedy in a Cleckheaton residential street which led to a cabbie losing his life.

The victim, thought to be an Uber driver, has been named locally as Muhammad Ilyas.

Little detail has been provided as to the exact circumstances of the incident, but police have stated that "the death is not currently being treated as suspicious". 

Now, residents of Kenmore Road have given their recollections of the fateful events of December 23, apparently shedding more light on the events that unfolded.

Residents told the T&A they were awoken at around 5am by the sound of a car crashing into a fence.

Moments later, the owners of the home came out to find an Uber in their garden, facing forwards with the lights on. The car was still running, and it appeared that the car may have rolled down the street.

The owner of the house, who did not wish to be named, said: “We were woken up at 5am, there was a crunch sound, which was the car going into the fence.

“My husband went out to find there was a car in the garden, the keys were in, the engine was running, it wasn’t in gear and the handbrake wasn’t on.

“It was an Uber taxi.

“He turned the car off and then heard shouts up the street, he went and addressed the man and helped him.”

The road was blocked off from both ends, with a heavy emergency service presence. Residents were allowed to leave and cars weren’t allowed out.

A resident said: “I came out at 6am and the road was taped off, I wasn’t allowed out, there were police vans and emergency vehicles.

“I was allowed to leave at around 9am, but cars weren’t allowed out.

“Once I told the police I hadn’t seen anything or heard anything I was allowed to walk my dog.

“The cordon was lifted at around 9:30pm.”

The resident said one possible theory was that the man may have been struck by his own car, although police declined to comment on that theory when asked by the T&A.

“I heard the ambulance man saying he had a fractured hip,” the resident added.

The area was taped off with a cordon in place as police investigated the scene and made inquiries.

The resident added: “It’s tragic really; it’s always sad when something like this happens but especially this close to Christmas.”

One couple said: “We couldn’t see a lot because it was dark outside.

“Police were holding torches to the ground but now we know it was so they could help the paramedics see what they were doing.  

“It’s tragic that somebody lost their life.

“A family lost a loved one.

“Police were knocking on doors asking for CCTV but none of it goes onto the road.”

Officers were called to the scene following reports a car had collided with a fence

At the time, police said they found a male with serious injuries on the floor nearby, but he died before arriving at hospital.

Earlier this week, an updated police statement said: “Enquiries remain ongoing regarding this matter, but the death is not currently being treated as suspicious. 

“Anyone who may have witnessed the incident who has not spoken with officers is asked to call Kirklees CID on 101 or go online at  https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat quoting reference 0226 23/12.”

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