Unrepentant Driver Who Killed 9-Year-Old Girl Blamed Her—Until Video Revealed the Horrifying Truth
Before surveillance footage exposed the devastating reality, Qadeer Hussain, 55, heartlessly tried to pin the blame on a nine-year-old girl he struck and killed in a reckless red-light crash.
Hussain, a father of two, showed no remorse after fatally hitting Alice Williams as she crossed the road with her family. Instead, he accused the child of causing the accident—until video evidence revealed he had run the red light at high speed.
On July 8, 2023, Alice was on her way to a summer celebration with her mother and 6-year-old brother, Joseph, when they reached a pedestrian crossing on Kings Cross Road in Halifax. As other vehicles slowed for the changing traffic signal, Hussain accelerated—reaching 20 mph over the limit—in a last-second bid to beat the red light.
Today, he was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for causing Alice’s death by dangerous driving.
Driver Who Killed 9-Year-Old Girl Blamed Her—Until Dashcam Footage Exposed the Truth
A reckless driver who struck and killed a 9-year-old girl in Halifax after running a red light tried to avoid responsibility by blaming the young victim—until dashcam footage exposed his lie.
Qadeer Hussain, 55, from Essex Street, Halifax, was sentenced on Friday to eight years and four months in prison, along with a 10-year, two-month driving ban, for the death of Alice Williams, who died days after being critically injured in the collision.
On July 8, 2023, Alice was walking to a summer celebration with her mother and younger brother, Joseph, when they arrived at a pedestrian crossing on Kings Cross Road. As traffic lights changed and vehicles slowed, Hussain accelerated his black Vauxhall Corsa—reaching 49 mph, nearly 20 mph over the limit—trying to beat the light.
He failed to notice the family had already started crossing.
Alice, who was just a few steps ahead of her family, was hit with devastating force. Despite being rushed to hospital in critical condition, she tragically died a few days later.
Initially, Hussain claimed he had been driving legally and accused Alice of running into the road. But dashcam footage obtained by police told a very different story.
“The defendant made a deliberate decision to run the red light at high speed in the belief that nobody was crossing,” prosecutor James Lake told Bradford Crown Court.
Faced with the undeniable video evidence, Hussain admitted to causing death by dangerous driving in February.
In a heartbreaking courtroom address, Alice’s mother, Claire, told him, “I will never be whole again.” Her younger brother Joseph, just six years old, described the driver simply and painfully as “mean” and “bad,” adding, “It makes me feel very sad.”
The family shared a deeply emotional statement after sentencing:
“Qadeer Hussain destroyed our daughter Alice and devastated us. We want drivers to look at Alice and think about what can happen when they take risks and drive too fast. We assume that her killer regrets his actions today.
“We are very grateful to all who tried to save her—medical staff, the police, witnesses, and the charities who supported us. Their dashcam videos proved what he did. We urge everyone who can to please buy a dashcam.
“Most of all, we want Alice to be remembered not for how she died, but for who she was: a happy, bright bookworm; a funny, loving and gentle daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend. We will always be so proud of her.”
Detective Sergeant Steve Suggitt of the Major Collision Enquiry Team added:
“Today’s sentence won’t bring Alice back, but we hope it offers some closure for her family. This was a truly tragic incident. We thank everyone who assisted—especially those who shared dashcam footage, which was crucial in bringing Hussain to justice.”