THE distraught family of a car crash victim today spoke of their grief and paid tribute to their "intelligent and loving" son.

Qasair Rashid, 26, of Hibson Road, Nelson, died in Airedale Hospital after a smash on the A650 at Riddlesden, near Keighley.

Police said Mr Rashid's Honda Civic swerved into the opposite carriageway and hit the side of a Vauxhall Cavalier.

His front seat passenger Khalid Parvez, 30, an unemployed labourer, of Vernon Street, Nelson, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital and the back seat passenger - a 17-year-old girl from Burnley - was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where she was said to be "stable" but still having respiratory problems. Her name has not yet been released by police.

The driver of the Vauxhall Cavalier, from Bradford, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The trio were travelling towards Bradford on Thursday night and Mr Rashid, an unemployed technical support assistant, had been at home with his parents, Abdul and Zeenat, before the accident.

His mother said: "Qasair was a very helpful person. He cared a lot about his family and was very close to me, but he was also very confused about his life.

"He was always worried about the future and his family and his girlfriend, Rosalind. He wanted to marry her and wanted to do right by his family too. He was a very honest boy.

"Inside he was very much like his father but he looked a lot like his brother Nasir. When he worked for Time Computers, sometimes people couldn't tell them apart." Mr Rashid's younger sister, Farhat, 24, said: "He seemed like he knew he was going to die because he had started talking about death and life after death.

"He pointed out that he only had a short lifeline on his hand and during the last couple of weeks he has been ringing me every day, about four times a day.

"I am close to all my four brothers but I was closest to Qasair. I could tell him anything and he was my best friend.

"It still hasn't hit me properly yet that he's dead.

"We used to go to Burnley College together and were even in the same class. He was very intelligent and he was the sweetest, most caring, gentle person.

"I am the only sister and he used to say he would do anything for me. I told people I had four brothers who were my bodyguards. I can't say three now - I will always say four."

The funerals of both men were due to take place this afternoon.

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