I passed a horror crash where a woman was killed – I had no idea my life had just been destroyed
A HUSBAND has opened up about his heartache after driving past a horrific accident that killed a woman – unaware it was his wife.
Bolaji Onifade, 43, was heading to work as he passed Manchester Emergency Services as he tried to save a woman’s life.
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The 38-year-old had been crossing the street when she was mowed down by a wealthy businessman’s son, who was driving a powerful £200,000 Mercedes G-Wagen at speeds of up to 91mph.
It wasn’t until 20 minutes later that Bolaji discovered that the woman was his wife Ibizugbe, who died in hospital a day later from multiple horrific injuries.
The grieving husband now recalls: “That day changed my life forever. When I heard the news, I felt like I had come to the end of the world. What am I going to do without my wife?
“She was a lively and friendly person. We met at Salford University and later married. We had been trying to have a baby and were considering IVF before COVID set us back.
“She would have been a wonderful mother. People shouldn’t be able to drive such powerful cars when they are so young. If he had driven properly I would still have my wife.”
Bolaji, who is known as BJ, said the couple went shopping that morning and took his nephew with them before dropping them off at work.
He added: “I offered to pick her up later from work but she said she would take a bus home as she works overtime.
“I worked the night shift and went to work later. As I was driving down Ashton New Road, I noticed police lights flashing across the street and thought there must have been an incident.
“Something told me to call my wife, but she didn’t answer. I asked my cousin to call her but she didn’t pick up either.
“When I finally got to work 20 minutes later, I received a call from my wife’s employer saying that there had been an incident and that the police were going to visit my address.
“I thought the police didn’t care about your address unless it was serious. I left work and came home where they told me the news.”
He said the couple have been together for 10 years and Ibizugbe has been working hard on her studies – even getting a master’s degree in Nigeria.
The horror crash happened in October 2021 when Mohammed Chowdhury, 22, was behind the wheel.
It was discovered Chowdhury had been chatting on his phone before plowing into the 38-year-old.
Before the bang, Chowdhury sped past in the four-litre G63 car – which can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds – and overtook other drivers.
The speed at which he drove is said to make other cars “tremble as he drove by”.
He is now jailed for five years and six months after admitting to causing the death by dangerous driving.
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