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Labour peer Lord Ahmed in horror M1 smash that leaves motorist dead Last updated at 18:18pm on 26th December 2007
Labour peer Lord Ahmed has been involved in a six-car Christmas Day horror smash that claimed the life of a Slovakian driver.
The 49-year-old Muslim peer was at the wheel of his gold coloured X Type Jaguar when it ploughed into an Audi A4 that had broken down in the fast lane of the M1 near Rotherham.
The 28-year-old victim died instantly in the impact and Lord Ahmed - who helped free British teacher Gillian Gibbons in Sudan last month - suffered severe facial injuries and shock.
Crash: Lord Ahmed with 'teddy bear' teacher Gillian Gibbons (centre), whose release he helped secure from a Sudanese jail last month
The Audi hit the crash central crash barrier, spun round and ended up facing the wrong way on the southbound carriageway near to Junction 35 at Thorpe Hesley, near Rotherham.
The driver and one passenger managed to reach the hard shoulder but police believe the driver then tried to dodge speeding traffic at 6.20pm on Christmas Day, to get back to his car to retrieve his mobile phone and call for help.
Pakistani born Lord Ahmed, who has lived in nearby Rotherham since he was a child, then hit the car and driver. At least four other vehicles were also involved in the crash.
Police say the dead man, who has not been named, had been living in the Leigh area of Lancashire. His passenger, also a Slovakian, has been arrested by police and is still being questioned.
M1
The stretch of the M1 where the fatal crash took place (library picture)
Lord Ahmed, along with three other people, was taken to Rotherham District General Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and was allowed home early yesterday. The Labour peer - whose official title is Lord Ahmed of Rotherham - became the first Muslim in modern times to become a lord when he was appointed to the House of Lords in 1998.
Last month flew to Sudan and negotiated the release of British teacher Gillian Gibbons , jailed for allowing children in her class to call a teddy bear Muhammad. web pagePosts: 3188 | Registered: Feb 2007
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