Taxi driver jailed for texting behind the wheel causing fatal M3 collision
Mohamed Saleemi sentenced to seven years for causing death by dangerous driving
A taxi driver who had been texting behind the wheel has been jailed for seven years after causing a fatal collision on the M3.
Mohamed Farooq Saleemi, aged 64 and from Cedar Road in Eastleigh, veered off the carriageway and struck a recovery worker stationed on the hard shoulder.
Southampton Crown Court heard the collision happened around 11.25pm on 21st February 2022 between junctions 13 and 14 of the M3.
Saleemi collided with both a Mercedes Vito vehicle and 54-year-old Vologea Mihaliuc, a recovery operative working to recover a broken-down vehicle. Mr Mihaliuc was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Shocking CCTV and dashcam footage shown during the trial captured Saleemi veering off the road towards the recovery vehicle, which had flashing amber lights. Saleemi failed to notice the vehicle as he had been texting while driving.
Court sentencing
Today, 15th January 2026, Saleemi was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to seven years in prison.
He was also charged with perverting the course of justice after he attempted to hide his phone from police officers. Saleemi had previously pleaded guilty to this offence.
Police response
DC Joy Jarvis of the Roads Policing Unit described Saleemi’s actions as “a selfish act” with devastating consequences:
“This was a senseless death caused by a distracted driver who was using his phone.
“As a professional taxi driver, the defendant should have known better. To risk lives just to send a text is a completely selfish act and now a family has been completely torn apart by this man’s actions.”