Man pleads guilty to death by dangerous driving after fatal Nelson collision
Friday, April 4, 2025
A man has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a woman following a fatal collision in Nelson.
Abubakar Mahmood, 20, of Farrer Street, Nelson today pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death whilst disqualified from driving and causing death without insurance at Preston Sessions house.
On 15th December 2024, at 8:31pm, 51-year-old Safia Karieem (pictured below) left an address in Nelson, where she had been working as a carer.
Mahmood, who was already disqualified from driving after a previous dangerous driving conviction, was driving along 30mph-limit Manchester Road at 52mph. Seconds later, the throttle input increased to 100%, meaning his accelerator was fully down. He collided with Safia at 65mph.
Mahmood drove off, leaving Safia to die at the scene. He didn’t slow down or stop despite considerable windscreen damage.
Following a detailed police investigation videos were found of previous driving episodes and Mahmood was also charged with and pleaded guilty to a further count of dangerous driving.
He will be sentenced on 15th May.
DCI John McNamara, of our Force Major Investigation Team said: “First and foremost my thoughts remain with Safia’s loved ones, and I am relieved that they will not have to sit through a trial and hear the details of their mum’s death.
“Mahmood chose to drive in that manner on that day, with a blatant disregard for the safety of innocent bystanders, and himself. His disgraceful and dangerous actions cost Safia her life.
His driving was also clearly not an isolated incident with his previous driving episodes and the evidence we found showing a pattern of behaviour which ultimately had the worst possible outcome.
“Dangerous driving is not and never will be tolerated in Lancashire. If you are driving in a way that endangers others, we will catch you and we will prosecute you for it.”
If you know, or see someone driving dangerously, please do the responsible thing and report it.
