A family was forced to track down a father-of-three's body after police closed an automated iPhone crash alert without further investigation as he lay dead in an embankment.
The Incident
Nadeem Hussain's wife had to identify her husband's body after he lay undiscovered for more than a day following a crash on the M61, according to Lancs.Live. An inquiry heard how his iPhone had automatically issued a crash-detection SOS to Lancashire Police shortly after 10pm on March 21, but when officers were unable to reach the number, the alert was closed without further action. Mr Hussain's family had grown increasingly anxious when he failed to return home one evening in March.
Discovery of the Body
They managed to trace his phone's location and find his Audi A3 down an embankment on the northbound carriageway at around 2am on March 23. A Home Office post-mortem later confirmed that the 37-year-old died instantly. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has directed the local force to carry out an investigation.
Tributes and Fundraiser
Tributes to Nadeem, known as Dimmy, have poured in since and been left on the hard shoulder close to where his car left the carriageway. Cones had been placed on the hard shoulder, which National Highways confirmed was due to a drain cover being damaged during the collision. On Thursday (June 11), an inquest into Nadeem's passing was held at Preston Coroners' Court, during which it heard that he was a mechanic born in Burnley.
"Mr Hussain's death was referred to the coroner because he died from injuries caused by a road traffic collision," Area Coroner Kate Bisset confirmed. "The body was identified to PC Mason at the Royal Preston Hospital by Chloe; his wife of 10 years."
Family's Statement
A GoFundMe page, in honour of Nadeem, was set up after his death, pledging to build wells in third-world countries in his memory. More than £4,000 has been raised for the cause at the time of publication. "Nadeem was a kind, thoughtful man who had the time for anyone and would do anything to help others around," his family said in the fundraiser. "Many people have shared touching stories about Dimmy and his kind nature. His passion was for cars, fixing them, driving them, towing them he shared this passion alongside his father and has grown up being taught everything he knows from his father. Nadeem was a loving father to three children, Maleesha, Anayah & Zakariyah. He spent his Sundays taking Anayah to the auctions & returning home with extra 'treasures' to annoy his wife. He was a loving brother and son, very close to his sisters who are left heartbroken with Nadeem's departure from this world. They sadly lost Nadia, their other sister six months before Nadeem and as a family this is tragic for them."
Inquest and Investigation
At yesterday's inquest opening, the coroner said the case "remains with the police and CPS for investigation" and will be further mentioned on July 23. The GoFundMe page can be found here.
