Warwick student’s passing in accident renews calls for streetlight action

Calls have been renewed for streetlights to be turned on after a student from the University of Warwick passed away in a road accident on Kenilworth Road.

Sami Mohiuddin, a 22-year-old first-year Law student, was knocked down by a taxi on Kenilworth Road in the early hours of Wednesday 24 April.

Seven years earlier, 18-year-old English and French student Archie Wellbelove, also studying at Warwick, passed away after being hit by a taxi on the same road.

An inquest found that the streetlights being switched off played a part in his death. Following Sami’s death, Archie’s family have revived calls for the streetlights to be turned on.

Speaking on behalf of the Wellbelove family, Archie’s brother Henry told The Leamington Observer: “The parallels are self-evident with this young man’s death and that of my younger brother.

“The tragedy surrounding my brother’s death was further compounded by the fact that the streetlights were turned off only a matter of weeks before he was knocked down and killed.

“It astounds me therefore that Warwickshire County Council did not heed the warning Archie’s death should have given them. The council’s decision to extinguish the street lighting in the small hours has now resulted in another untimely, and wholly avoidable death.

“My family and I would like to extend our warmest wishes to those affected by this, the latest episode in what is now a series of the council’s enduring neglect.”

Katie Wellbelove, Archie’s mother, added that council budgets should not come before the cost of a life. She asked: “Now that another young man has been taken from his friends and family, surely funds from somewhere can be found?

“I would be astounded if the council do not now reconsider the decision to remove street lighting in this area. Lack of funds can no longer be an excuse.”

An investigation is to be conducted, Warwickshire County Council said. A spokeswoman stated: “The council works with police to carry out a full investigation whenever there is a fatality on one of our roads, taking into consideration highway engineering and safety measures at the location and establishing if any changes can be made to improve safety.”

“Our thoughts are with the young man’s friends and loved ones at this extremely difficult time,” they added.

Tributes have been paid to Sami since the accident. Warwickshire Police are appealing for anyone with information to call 101, quoting incident number 42 of 24 April 2019.