The widow of a dad killed in a double fatal horror smash says she will ‘never forgive’ the driver responsible for the crash.
Rafique Khan, 43, and Aurang Zeb Khan, 44, both of Accrington, died when the Vauxhall Vectra they were travelling in was hit by a high-powered Mercedes driven by Dudley Reilly.
Reilly, 25, was this week jailed for ten years for causing their deaths following the incident on Hyndburn Road in Accrington in October last year.
The defendant sped along the road at 49mph in the Mercedes C250 driving through a red light just before the fatal smash.
Reilly - who is said to have ‘very little memory’ of the incident - had visited a pub before taking to the wheel despite being uninsured.
Prosecutors said the defendant was driving to see his girlfriend and had borrowed the car from a friend in order to impress her.
During the sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, Aurang Zeb Khan’s widow, Nargis Khan, said her husband’s death has been ‘truly overwhelming’. She said the father-of-three was a caring and helpful family man who took great pride in the upbringing of his boys.
She said: “Our lives have been turned upside down, every day is a struggle without him.
“We are mourning the loss of many hopes, dreams and expectations.
“We will never see him again, we will never grow old together.
“For the rest of our lives all family gatherings, birthdays, Eid which were once joyous and festive occasions are now ruined because there is someone missing, a empty chair, a smiling face who should have been here.
Mrs Khan - who lives just half a mile from the scene of the crash - said she will never forgive Reilly and will never be able to travel on that route again.
She added: “I have to live knowing that my husband was killed so close to home, while I was putting our kids to sleep.
“I will never forgive the defendant for the pain his reckless actions have caused me and our sons who now have to live without their loving father, who was also a brother to his siblings and a son to his elderly father.
“I wish he could completely feel the extent to which he has ruined our lives.”
The defendant - who tried to escape the scene of the crash - initially denied any involvement but later admitted his part during a police interview.
A third passenger of the Vectra, Rafakat Khan, was in a coma following the collision, suffered a broken pelvis and ribs and has a long term brain injury.
Three occupants of the Mercedes were also hospitalised.
Reilly, of Floyd Road, Ribbleton, admitted death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.
He was jailed for 10 years and six months and handed a 15-year driving ban.
Hyndburn Mayor Coun Munsif Dad, who knows both families, said ‘some justice’ has finally been done.
He said: “This particular incident has had a devastating effect on the community as well as the families.
“The jail sentence is something that can’t bring their loved ones back. For two deaths I think 10 years isn’t long enough.
“But I welcome that it’s concluded now and they can at least say some justice has been done, even if it’s not quite what they would have expected.”
