Driver Who Ran Red Light and Killed 9-Year-Old Girl Blamed Her Before Video Proved He Lied

Before video evidence exposed the truth, a driver who ran a red light and hit a 9-year-old girl initially blamed the child for the accident.

On Friday, 55-year-old Qadeer Hussain was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for reckless driving that killed Alice Williams. He also received a driving ban lasting over ten years.

The crash happened on July 8, 2023, as Alice was heading to a summer event in Halifax with her mom and 6-year-old brother, Joseph. As they crossed Kings Cross Road, Hussain sped through a red light—going about 20 mph over the speed limit—while other drivers had already started to slow down.

His black Vauxhall Corsa struck Alice, who was just a few steps ahead of her family. She suffered critical injuries and died in the hospital a few days later.

Hussain, who lives on Essex Street in Halifax, initially told police he had done nothing wrong and claimed Alice had suddenly run into the road. But dashcam footage later showed he was driving around 49 mph and had clearly run the red light after it had changed.

Prosecutor James Lake said Hussain made a “deliberate decision” to blow through the red light at high speed, wrongly assuming no one would be in the crosswalk.

In February, Hussain pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

In court, Alice’s mother, Claire, described his actions as “aggressive and monstrous,” telling him she would “never be whole again.”

Alice’s younger brother, Joe, called Hussain “mean and bad,” saying, “If drivers speed, they’re mean and bad because they know they shouldn’t do it. It makes me feel very sad.”

The family released a statement after the sentencing:
“Qadeer Hussain destroyed our daughter Alice and devastated us,” they said. “We hope drivers think of Alice before they take risks behind the wheel. We believe her killer regrets what he did today.”

They also thanked medical staff, charities, police, and witnesses for their support—and urged others to install dashcams, which played a crucial role in proving what happened.

“We want Alice to be remembered for more than her tragic death. She was our happy, bright bookworm—a funny, gentle, and loving daughter, sister, and friend. We will always be proud of her.”

Detective Sergeant Steve Suggitt from the Major Collision Enquiry Team added:
“While this sentence won’t bring Alice back, we hope it gives the family some sense of justice. This was a heartbreaking incident, and our thoughts remain with those affected.”

He praised the public for their help, especially those who provided dashcam footage, saying it was vital in securing the conviction.

“We hope this serves as a powerful reminder of how dangerous reckless driving can be—and the devastating consequences families are left to face.”