A FAMILY was today mourning the death of a 22-year-old car enthusiast who was killed in a head-on smash.

Upholsterer Umar Ravat, of Rydal Road, Blackburn, died after his hired Ford Mondeo was in collision with a Hollands Pie van in Preston New Road, Samlesbury, just after midnight.

His friend, Shazad Malik, 24, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, was seriously injured in the accident which happened near the Little Chef restaurant at 12.15am. He was recovering in Royal Preston Hospital.

Two other friends, Gmazefor Ali, 40, of Cedar Street and Ahmed Navid, 22, of Lilac Road, both Blackburn, escaped with minor injuries. The van driver, David Landon, 30, of Paris Street, Burnley, was unhurt.

Yakub Ravat, 18, today paid tribute to his brother who had owned 17 cars since he gained his licence. He said: "Umar was a fun loving person and it would have been his 23rd birthday next month.

"He loved his cars and had been to Blackpool to pick up three friends who work in a takeaway.

"He was driving the hired Mondeo because he recently crashed his own car.

"It appears that he may have lost control of the Mondeo. Umar had a lot of friends and lived life to the full."

His parents, Sharifa and Zuber, were said to be distraught by the tragedy. Umar, a former pupil of Our Lady and St John High School, North Road, Blackburn, had two other brothers, Shoyeb, 10, and Ashraf, 20. He worked at Red Rose Upholstery, Emerald Street, Blackburn.

Police said the Mondeo was heading towards Blackburn when it was in collision with the transit van.

A spokeswoman said the Mondeo crossed the central line of the road and was in collision with the van.

Firefighters spent 20 minutes cutting Umar's body from the wreckage, but he died at the scene.

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