Teens feared death at 100mph on Prom
Elahi, 29, from Preston, went on a pleasure spin along the Prom with three teenage girls in the back before mounting tram tracks in Anchorsholme, a court was told.
One of the girls, who all suffered cuts and bruises in the incident, was so frightened by Elahi’s driving she shouted out: “We’re all going to die,” before the horror smash.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol and will be sentenced next month.
PC Adam Bond, from Blackpool Police, said: “Mehboob Elahi drove with little regard for the passengers in his car, his surroundings, the road conditions and other people.”
Elahi, who works as a professional driver picking-up and delivering cars, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.
Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Elahi was driving an Audi S4 on the Promenade with a male passenger and three girls aged between 15 and 16 on March 4 about 1am.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe girls said they were offered vodka by the passenger and that the driver was showing off and playing loud music.
One of the girls could see the speedometer and saw it reach 100mph in a 30mph zone.
Elahi then drove onto the tram tracks and hit an electrical pole.
Engineers from Blackpool Transport had to be called out to isolate electricity supplies before emergency workers could remove the mangled car from the scene.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA breath test showed Elahi was more than twice over the alcohol limit with 78 micrograms of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.
Defence lawyer, Bal Minhas, said his client had been asked by a friend to go to Blackpool. He had had no intention of drinking, then had a couple of drinks, but felt fine to drive.
His passenger had spoken to the girls and it was agreed they would give them a lift to Cleveleys. Elahi admitted there was an element of showing off when he was driving.
He was bailed to appear for sentence on April 19 at Preston Crown Court by Blackpool magistrates who imposed an interim driving ban on him.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPC Adam Bond, from Blackpool Police, slammed Elahi for putting himself and his passengers at risk.
He said: “Driving while under the influence of alcohol is highly dangerous and unacceptable.
“We will ensure that anyone caught driving in an unsafe manner after drinking and putting the safety of other road users at risk are prosecuted and dealt with by the courts.
“Mehboob Elahi drove with little regard for the passengers in his car, his surroundings, the road conditions and other people, causing damage when he crashed into post on some tram lines.
“I hope he and others now realise the serious consequences for those who do not comply with the rules of the road.”