Texting taxi driver jailed for fatal crash

A taxi driver who was using his mobile phone while driving has been jailed for seven years for causing a fatal crash on a motorway.

Mohamed Farooq Saleemi, 64, veered off the carriageway and struck recovery worker Vologea Mihaliuc, 54, on the hard shoulder of the M3 near Southampton in February 2022.

Police said Saleemi had been texting and did not see Mihaliuc's recovery vehicle up ahead.

He was sentenced to six years for causing death by dangerous driving following an earlier trial at Southampton Crown Court. He was handed another year after admitting a charge of perverting the course of justice.

The crash happened shortly before 23:30 GMT between junctions 13 and 14 - Eastleigh and Southampton.

Mihaliuc was working to recover a broken-down vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

CCTV and dashcam footage showed Saleemi veering towards the recovery vehicle, which had flashing amber lights.

Saleemi, of Cedar Road, Eastleigh, also tried to hide his phone from police officers.

Det Con Joy Jarvis said: "This was a senseless death caused by a distracted driver who was using his phone.

"As a professional taxi driver, the defendant should have known better. To risk lives just to send a text is a completely selfish act and now a family has been completely torn apart by this man's actions."

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