Dad ‘determind’ to create road safety awareness after
Three months ago, a family from Bradford were left heartbroken as their teenage son was tragically killed in a car crash, turning their lives ‘upside down’.
Now, in memory of their sports-mad relative, Saliq Malik’s family have arranged a special road safety event, in the hope of preventing other families from suffering the same fate as they have.
Saliq was tragically killed when the Volkswagen Golf he was travelling in as a passenger crashed into a parked car, lamppost and brick wall in Barkerend on Friday 12th September.
He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital where he died later that same day. Another 15-year-old passenger also suffered injuries but not life-threatening.
Following his passing, the Hanson Academy student’s friends and family decided they wanted to do something to raise awareness of the dangers of reckless driving.
This weekend, on Sunday 14th December from 4pm, an event will be staged in Bradford City Park to remember Saliq, with speeches to be given by guests, imams and councillors, before balloons are released into the sky.
A song and rap have also been written for the event, with a ‘huge surprise’ set to end the proceedings.
Saliq’s father, Amjad Malik, and mother, Uzma Sheikh, explained how the project first began and the important messages they hope to pass on to other young drivers and their families.
“When the crash happened, Saliq’s friends wanted to do something in his memory and it was talked about for quite a while before his funeral,” Mrs Sheikh said.
“During this time more accidents happened involving young people and they continued to happen after that as well. Just look at the young people killed in the recent crash on Manningham Lane and the five students in Doncaster.
“It’s our families who have been affected by these tragedies today but tomorrow it could be someone else. We don’t want what has happened to our child, to happen to anyone else.”
Mr Malik continued: “This weekend’s event will be in loving memory of my son but it is something that we hope the whole community will get involved in because the message is one for the whole community.
“It may arranged by members of the Asian community but all speeches will be in English and we hope to draw in a multi-cultural crowd to bring everyone together.”
Saliq was the second oldest of five children, and lived with his family in Eccleshill.
Described as a child who ‘would want to put a smile on everyone’s faces’ , Mr Malik paid further tributes to his son.
“He got on with everyone,” Mr Malik said. “He never liked to see anyone upset and would do whatever he could to make people smile.
“All the family loved him, and the youngest kids would always play with him and looked up to him.
“Our event is aiming to alert people of the dangers of dangerous driving, the effects it can have on drivers and passengers, as well as their families.
“We hope to prevent what happened to Saliq, happening to any other families.”
