What began as a simple walk to a summer celebration in Halifax turned into a family’s worst nightmare on a July afternoon in 2023. Nine-year-old Alice Williams was with her mother and younger brother Joseph, heading toward a fun-filled day, when tragedy struck at a pedestrian crossing on Kings Cross Road.
Driving a black Vauxhall Corsa, 55-year-old Qadeer Hussain approached the crossing at high speed—well above the 30 mph limit. The lights had already turned red and other vehicles were slowing, but instead of stopping, Hussain accelerated, trying to make it through. Alice, just steps ahead of her family, began crossing.
She never made it to the other side.
The collision happened in full view of her mother and little brother. Alice was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. After days of battling her injuries, she tragically passed away.
Initially, Hussain denied any wrongdoing. He told police he was driving responsibly and even claimed Alice ran into the road without warning. But investigators weren’t buying it. Nearby drivers had captured the moment on dashcam—and the footage contradicted his version entirely.
“The defendant made a deliberate decision to drive through a red light at speed, wrongly assuming no one was on the crossing,” prosecutor James Lake told the court.
The dashcam clips showed Hussain speeding toward the town center, ignoring the red light, confirming his reckless behavior. Faced with the undeniable evidence, he pleaded guilty in February to causing death by dangerous driving. On Friday, Bradford Crown Court sentenced him to eight years and four months in prison, along with a driving ban lasting more than a decade.
In a powerful courtroom statement, Alice’s mother Claire addressed Hussain directly. Her voice unwavering but filled with pain, she described his actions as “aggressive and monstrous.” Six-year-old Joseph called Hussain “mean” and “bad,” struggling to understand why someone would drive so dangerously. “It makes me feel very sad,” he said quietly.
Following the sentencing, the family released a heartfelt statement:
“Qadeer Hussain took Alice from us and left our family shattered. We want every driver to think about her before speeding or running a red light. We believe he now regrets what he’s done—but it’s too late.”
They thanked hospital staff and those who came forward with crucial dashcam footage, without which justice might not have been possible.
“We want Alice to be remembered not just for how she died, but for who she was: a joyful, clever book lover; a kind and funny daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin and friend. We are forever proud of her.”
Detective Sergeant Steve Suggitt from the Major Collision Enquiry Team underscored the importance of the dashcam evidence, noting that it was key to building the case against Hussain.
“No sentence will ever bring Alice back,” he said, “but the footage helped us understand exactly what happened and ensure accountability.”
Now, the family hopes Alice’s memory will serve as a warning—and perhaps a lifesaving reminder—to drivers everywhere: one reckless decision can take a life in an instant.
