Beckton fatal crash: Family urges Royal Docks Road probe

Haaris Usman's loved ones have urged Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London to investigate the safety of Royal Docks Road.

Redbridge man Haaris, who studied in Ilford and Barnet and hoped to become an engineer, died in hospital two days after being injured in a two-car crash there on February 5.

READ MORE: 'Our world is upside down': Family of teenager killed in Beckton car crash

Haaris (right) was described as caring, lovely, family-orientated by his brother, Daniel Usman (left) (Image: Daniel Usman)

Around a dozen members of Haaris’ family recently visited the crash site with Labour MP for East Ham, Sir Stephen Timms, where they discussed the safety features on that stretch of the road.

READ MORE: The Newham road where drivers were fined £1m in a year

Haaris’ aunt Sana Bashir believed a reassessment of the road is required.

"The signage is pretty poor, there are no CCTV cameras.

"What concerns me is you’ve got these crash barriers but they don’t run along the whole of the pathway."

She said there is a gap where the vehicle fell which Haaris was a passenger in.

Haaris' family said, following the collision with another car, the car he was travelling in fell off the side of the road down a hill and made this dent in a metal fence (Image: Tara Mewawalla)

According to Haaris’ family, the vehicle he was travelling in was heading towards Gallions Reach Shopping Park.

Upon collision, they claim it travelled across at least two lanes of traffic and fell down a slope onto a pathway before hitting a metal fence.

Sana continued: "I think a reassessment is definitely required, not just around placing crash barriers but actually studying the flow of the traffic because it does get congested.

"Let’s make our roads much safer."

The car crash took place in Royal Docks Road, in between Armada Way to the south and the Beckton B&Q to the north (Image: Tara Mewawalla)

Haaris’ older brother, Daniel Usman, said: "Unfortunately, my brother passed away – how many lives have to be lost before something is done about it?"

Sir Stephen added: "This has been a terrible tragedy - the loss of a young and much loved man.

"The family is asking very appropriate questions I think about why there wasn’t a crash barrier on that section of the road.

"I think we need to establish whether there should have been a central reservation and whether there should have been a barrier and if so, make sure that they are provided."

Haaris' family and friends have left flowers at the site where the car he was travelling in fell off the road (Image: Tara Mewawalla)

A police investigation into the incident is ongoing and the MP confirmed that he would be in touch with the Mayor of London to discuss the safety on this stretch of the road.

Lilli Matson, TfL's chief safety, health and environment officer said: "Any death or serious injury is a tragedy and completely unacceptable, and we’re committed to doing everything possible to eliminate them from London’s roads.

"We take concerns about danger on London’s road network extremely seriously and will be assisting the police as they investigate this tragic incident.

"We’ll continue to work closely with local residents and the borough to ensure that roads are safe for everyone who lives and works in Newham."

The drivers of both cars involved in the fatal collision, 22 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. They have been bailed.

The Met released an appeal for witnesses or drivers with dash cam footage to get in contact.

Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to call 101 or 020 8597 4878 quoting CAD 6269.