Police say driver of a Toyota Avensis could hold the key

EXCLUSIVE

The family of a teenager left fighting for his life after a car crash is urging witnesses to come forward.

Omar Dean, 18, from Wembley, was sitting in the front passenger seat of a Mini Cooper when it crashed into a tree in Kenton Road, Kenton, on September 10, at around 1am.

His friend, who was driving, managed to escape the wreck with minor injuries but Omar, who was due to start a plumbing course at Harrow College the following week, was taken to hospital with serious head injuries and a broken spine.

The teenager has since been put in a coma and undergone an operation but it is not known if he will wake up in time for his 19th birthday next month.

His aunt, Yasmin Niazi, 40, is urging anyone who may have seen what happened to come forward.

Speaking exclusively to the Times, Miss Niazi said: “Just seeing him lying there is awful. It has been three weeks now but everyday is hard.

“He is going to be in hospital for at least six months. It has changed our lives.”

Police are particularly keen to speak to the driver of a dark coloured Toyota Avensis which is believed to have been in front of the Mini and braked suddenly, causing it to swerve off of the road.

Officers also believe there were passengers in the car.

Miss Niazi said: “We are not holding anyone responsible right now. We are just praying for Omar to recover and hopefully lead a normal life again.

“If anyone knows anything about what happened, we appeal for them to come forward.”

Miss Niazi said Omar had aspirations of becoming an engineer and hoped to start driving lessons. She said: “We realise that we are going to need a lot of patience and prayers. We will have to take one day at a time.

“We want to tell him that we love him and are waiting for him to come around. We want to hear his jokes and him telling us not to worry. There is so much more he needs to do. I can’t imagine our lives without him.”

Anyone with information should call Acting Detective Sergeant Amar Patel on 0208 721 3127 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.