A woman accused of causing her friend's death in a high-speed Lamborghini crash told a court that the passenger, who was then 20, tampered with the vehicle's controls, causing it to surge. Humaira Batool, now 26, denies causing death by dangerous driving following the incident on the M62 motorway near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, on December 21, 2022.
The Lamborghini Urus was traveling at approximately 120 mph when it veered off the road, struck a barrier, and overturned. Efforts by passing motorists to rescue the passenger, Mohammed Shaan Hussain, were thwarted by fire and an explosion. Mr. Hussain died at the scene.
Batool, who was 22 at the time of the crash, sustained serious injuries, including burns and a fractured tibia. Court documents state that Mr. Hussain had rented the Lamborghini and picked up Batool from her home in Bradford around 4 a.m. before the crash.
Prosecutors allege that Batool was driving the supercar at speeds up to 143 mph in dark, wet conditions, far exceeding the speed limit. She initially told police she had been asleep in the passenger seat and only awoke when the car rolled. However, footage presented to the jury showed Batool moving from the passenger seat to the driver's seat at traffic lights shortly before the incident.
Batool testified that Mr. Hussain had been manipulating controls inside the car, saying, "Watch this, watch this," before reaching towards the console and steering wheel. She claimed the car repeatedly accelerated as he pressed buttons, causing her to panic.
A Lamborghini expert informed the jury that there were no controls on the vehicle that could produce such acceleration. The prosecution suggested that Batool's account was an attempt to shift blame onto the deceased.
Defense counsel argued that the collision might have been an accident for which no one was criminally responsible. He suggested that high speed alone would not cause a car to leave the road and overturn, implying another factor was involved, though the prosecution has not identified a specific cause for the loss of control.
Jurors were expected to deliberate on a verdict following closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense.