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Telematics data helps convict ‘hit and run’ driver for killing pedestrian

Omar Tariq pled guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court after telematics data expertise from anti-motor fraud experts, Asset Protection Unit (APU) Ltd, proved he was speeding, and that he switched seats with his girlfriend after the collision.

Tariq was adjudged to have killed a pedestrian near Quinton, Birmingham after speeding along Hagley Road West and hitting Peter Price on Saturday 29 November 2014. Tariq failed to stop and drove a further third of a mile before calling the police.

Originally Tariq, a customer service agent from Stourbridge, claimed that he was not driving his girlfriend’s courtesy car, a white Mercedes E250 convertible, at the time of the incident.

In his police interview, Tariq further claimed that he had been driving towards Birmingham to collect his sister from work, and “wasn’t speeding or doing ridiculous speeds”.

However, a telematics device in the car allowed APU to ascertain Tariq was, in fact, lying. The data available from the incident proved unequivocally that the Mercedes was speeding at 61mph on the road with a 40mph limit at the time of the incident. The analysis established detailed information about almost every input the driver made while at the wheel.  

Police also proved that Tariq was driving the car, as he pulled in further down the road to switch seats with his girlfriend. Tariq was not permitted nor insured to drive the vehicle.

His girlfriend, Parvinder Ubhi, 23, a health and safety officer, was prosecuted for permitting use of the vehicle without valid insurance and obstructing the police in its execution of its duty by falsely claiming she was driving.

Neil Thomas, director of investigative services at APU, said: “This is a tragic case where Mr Price was almost home and was killed by the actions of Tariq. Witnesses had seen the Mercedes being driven at high speed prior to the collision, with one even commenting that the driver was driving like an idiot. The expert evidence we were able to supply helped provide the court with the exact speeds being driven which were well in excess of the speed limit. I’m glad we have been able to collaborate with the police to ensure the correct sentencing of a serious crime, and I hope play our part in helping to afford Mr Price’s family some justice.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.