Man who drove 100ft with 12-year-old girl trapped under his van said he 'thought it was a cone'

A van driver who drove for almost 100 feet with a 12-year-old girl trapped underneath his vehicle claimed he thought he had run over a traffic cone.

Haider Ali, 27, was buying coffee and donuts from a Tim Hortons drive-thru restaurant in Oldham when he failed to spot the girl crossing in front of his Vauxhall Combo van. After running over the victim, he drove on to pay for his food.

He only realised what had happened after the girl emerged from the back of the vehicle and lay motionless on the floor. She was left with a broken collarbone and elbow as well as friction burns.

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At the time of the crash, police said she suffered ''life changing'' injuries. Ali, of Pioneer Street, Rochdale, told police he did not realise his van had hit the girl and said he thought he had run over the traffic cone.

The girl's family declined to support a prosecution, meaning he could not be charged with causing serious injury by careless driving.

At Tameside Magistrates Court last Thursday (August 29), Ali admitted the lesser charge of driving without due care and attention. He was fined £300, ordered to pay £205 in costs and victim surcharge and had six points added to his driving licence. The court heard he already had three points on his licence for speeding two years ago.

Emilee Creasley, prosecuting, showed the court a brief clip of CCTV footage taken from the Tim Hortons restaurant in Hollinwood on the afternoon of January 26. It showed Ali’s white van appearing to drive slowly towards the drive-thru area.

The van then seems to bounce as if going over a bump as the girl, who was wearing black, came out from underneath the back of the vehicle. He