Footballer arrested over crash which killed father-of-five was ‘changing songs on iPod’ while driving on M1

A footballer has been arrested after being involved in a motorway crash on Christmas Day that killed a father-of-five.

Jordan Robertson, 20, who plays for Championship team Sheffield United, is understood to have been trying to change songs on his iPod while driving along the M1.

The striker’s black Mercedes CLC 180 sports car is believed to have collided with the red Ford Galaxy of Omar Mohamed, 38, who was driving to pick up his children from London, where they had been staying during the school holidays.

After the collision on the southbound carriageway of the motorway at junction 19, at about 2.50pm on Christmas Day, Mr Mohamed, from Leicester, was airlifted to Walsgrave Hospital, in Coventry, where he died a day later.

The arrest comes just two months after Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick was jailed for killing two young brothers Arron Peak, ten, and Ben, eight.

Although there has been no suggestion Robertson was under the influence of alcohol during the crash, it is understood he was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Mr Mohamed, a taxi driver, and former captain and then coach of the Somali national basketball team, had suffered a broken neck in the accident.

M1 crash victim Omar Mohamed (left) pictured with American basketball celebrity Kobe Bryant (right) at the Beijing Olympics in 2008

His wife Trea, 38, was at his bedside when he died on Boxing Day. Yesterday she paid tribute to her husband, who is father of their three sons, Mohamed, 12, Khalid, 11, and Djabir, nine, and two daughters, Nadhira, six, and Faiza, three.

She said: ‘He was a very open person and always had a big smile. Basketball was his biggest love and he enjoyed playing whenever he could.

‘He was a fantastic, loving father, and we will all miss him so much.

‘He wasn’t sure why he was in hospital, or what was going on around him, but he recognised me and he asked how the kids were.

‘The damage to the spinal cord was so bad that it was hard for him to breathe, so he was drifting in and out of sleep all the time.

Omar Mohamed coaching Somali youngsters. He was a former captain and then coach of the Somali national basketball team

Mr Mohamed fled to Holland as a refugee from war-torn Somalia 14 years ago. His family moved to England in 2004.

Although the Somali basketball team did not compete at the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, Mr Mohamed was asked to attend the opening ceremony and was part of the group of athletes who paraded the national flag around the Olympic stadium.

Last night 20-year-old Robertson was at home with his parents in Sheffield.

He said: ‘My condolences go out to the family, I don’t wish to make any further comment.’

The young footballer had been on loan from Sheffield United to Southampton Football Club before the accident.

Sheffield-born Roberston is reported to have hoped to extend the arrangement or make a permanent move when his loan expired.

But last night a spokesman for Southampton Football Club said Robertson would not be returning to the club.

He said: ‘The loan agreement expired after the last match he played for us on December 13 when he came on as a sub against Burnley. He was on a swap deal with one of our players, but that ended after the Burnley game.’

A spokesman for Leicestershire police said: ‘A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident on suspicion of dangerous driving.

‘He has been released on police bail pending further inquiries and is due to return to a police station in the new year.’

No-one was available for comment from Sheffield United last night.

The crash comes two months after Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick was jailed for killing two young brothers Arron Peak, ten, and Ben, eight.

The drunken goalkeeper had been driving back from Ipswich midfielder Norris’s wedding in June when he smashed into a car driven by the boys’ father.

McCormick, 25, was twice the drink-drive limit and had only two hours’ sleep before the crash in June. He had drunk champagne and wine at Norris’s wedding in Bolton, and was rushing to Coventry to confront his fiancee after hearing rumours she had been cheating on him.

McCormick, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving, was given seven years and four months in jail but will be out in half that time. His contract with Plymouth was ended.

Published by: Mo Guled

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