Family Supported By Lawyers Hope Hearing Will Provide Answers Over Sheffield Mum’s Death

The family of a mum killed in a smart motorway crash have revealed their hope that an inquest will provide them with answers regarding her death. 

Nargis Begum, 62, died in September 2018 after the Nissan Qashqai she was a passenger in broke down on the M1 near Sheffield. 

Nargis and her husband Mohammed Bashir, 69, who had been driving, exited their vehicle and were waiting for help to arrive when another vehicle then collided with their vehicle causing the Nissan to plough into Nargis. 

Lawyers investigate M1 smart motorways death

Following the mum-of-five and grandmother-of-nine’s death, her family, of Darnall, Sheffield, instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help investigate. 

Irwin Mitchell is also representing Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason, 44, was killed in a separate crash on the M1 near Sheffield. 

Now four years on from the fatal collision, an inquest examining the circumstances surrounding Nargis’s death is set to take place. Representatives from National Highways, formerly Highways England, are also due to give evidence.  

Expert Opinion

“Nargis was the heartbeat of the family and four years on her loved ones remain devastated by their loss.

“The pain of losing Nargis has been made all the harder given circumstances in which she died.

“Her family continue to have a number of concerns about the use of smart motorways and the events surrounding her death.

“While nothing can ever make up for what’s happened we’re determined to help provide Nargis’s family with the answers they deserve. The inquest is an important milestone in doing so.

“If during the course of the inquest issues around smart motorways are identified, it’s vital measures are taken to improve road safety.” Christopher Kardahji - Team Leader & Senior Associate

Smart motorways: Nargis Begum's story

Nargis and Mohammad had broken down near Woodall services on 9 September 2018. The stranded Nissan had its hazard lights on for almost 17 minutes when the other vehicle collided with it. The lane had not been closed to traffic.

Minutes before the collision the couple had phoned their daughter Saima Aktar, 40, who arrived at the scene to find paramedics trying to save her mum. 

Saima said: “The pain and suffering our family are going through is as raw now as it was when mum died. 

“She was the most kind, gentle and loving person you could wish to meet. Mum’s life revolved around family and all she wanted for us was health and happiness; something we’ve struggled to feel since her death. Our dad is a shadow of himself. That he avoided injury but his loving and caring wife of 45 years died in front of him has taken its toll on him.

“While it’s four years since her death time has stood still for our family. Trying to grieve for mum has been made all the harder because of the concerns we have about smart motorways and the events surrounding mum’s death. 

“We know the inquest and listening to the evidence is going to be traumatic but it’s something we need in order to get some of the answers we deserve.” 

Smart motorways legal case 

Irwin Mitchell has launched a civil case against National Highways on behalf of Nargis’s family. The law firm and Claire Mercer, of Broom, Rotherham, are investigating bringing a separate judicial review against National Highways calling for the hard shoulder to be reinstated on all existing all lane running smart motorways – roads that have no hard shoulder.

Jason, 47, and 22-year-old Alexandru Murgreanu, from Mansfield, were killed when they were knocked down by a lorry shortly after the pair was involved in a minor collision near junction 34 of the M1 near Meadowhall in June 2019. The pair had pulled over to the roadside as far as they could.

An inquest into Nargis’s death is due to start at Doncaster Coroner’s Court on 6 September and is expected to last four days.

Find out more about our expertise in supporting families following road crashes at our dedicated serious injury section. Alternatively to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.