BMW driver who fled M25 crash with Iveco Daily van identified

Shortly after midnight on January 12 last year, a grey BMW 520D travelling along the motorway crashed into an Iveco Daily van as it drove towards the M11 at junction 27.

Despite the impact causing serious damage to both vehicles and forcing the van onto its side, the van driver, thankfully, sustained only minor injuries.

The BMW driver ran off.

Because the crash was not reported, the registered owner was issued a notice of intended prosecution.

The BMW was left seriously damaged (Image: Essex Police)

When asked to supply the name of the driver, he nominated an unknown person and claimed he had sold the car days earlier.

Undeterred, investigating officers identified Iram Boubekeur as the driver using saliva left on the deployed airbag from the steering wheel.

The case proceeded in Boubekeur’s absence at a court hearing in August 2023 where he was found guilty of failing to nominate the driver, failing to stop and report a crash, careless driving and leaving a car in a dangerous position.

Boubekeur, 22, of Emlyn Road, Shepherds Bush, London, was ordered to complete 300 hours community service, banned from driving for nine months and ordered to pay fines totalling £224 at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 22.

For failing to nominate the correct driver, he was given six penalty points on his licence.

Essex Police officer in the case, PC Joe Goodwin, said: “Iram Boubekeur went to great lengths to avoid being identified as the driver at the time of the collision, and even denied the offence right up to the last minute.

“He claims to have panicked and fled, but he was complicit in trying to avoid interactions with police. But given the forensic evidence, it was impossible for him to deny driving the car.”

No separate penalty was issued for careless driving and leaving his car in a dangerous position, but his licence was endorsed.