A man has appeared in court and denied causing the death of a mum-of-four who was fatally crushed by his runaway van.

Shabana Ahmed, 46, was crushed to death by a vehicle as she walked three of her children home from school on Swindon Road, Dewsbury.

Mohammed Karani, 43, today appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court .

He denied one charge of causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving on April 6 this year.

The court heard Karani, of Park Close, Batley , was not in the van at the time of the incident and had left it parked on a hill in Swindon Road.

Prosecutor Alex Bosman told the court due to the fatality and the fact two children were also injured the case should be dealt with at Crown Court.

He told magistrates: “Nobody was in the vehicle at the time of the incident.”

The Ford Transit Connect van was parked on the left hand side of Swindon Road near the Madina Academy (top left)
The Ford Transit Connect van was parked on the left hand side of Swindon Road near the Madina Academy (top left)

He said the aggravating feature of the case was ‘a string of fractures’ suffered by the two children.

Magistrates agreed due to the complex expert witnesses and the fatality the case should be dealt with at Crown Court

Karani spoke only to confirm his name, address and not guilty plea.

The court heard Shabana died after being fatally hit by the Ford Transit Connect van.

She lived only a short distance away with her husband Roger.

It is understood she had just collected her children from Eastborough Junior and Infant School and was rushing home to make tea when the tragedy occurred.

Two builders working on the house next to Shabana’s sprinted down the road and an off-duty nurse administered first aid.

Paramedics and doctors were called to the scene but Shabana had suffered terrible internal injuries and died at the scene.