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TRAGIC SMASH
It is not yet clear who was driving the Mercedes when all five university friends were plunged into bushes on the roadside
- Adela Whittingham
- Morgan Johnson
- Jane Matthews
THREE pals have been killed in a horror car crash - with one of them just days away from celebrating his 21st birthday.
The driver of the now-wrecked Mercedes CLK convertible was making his way around a retail car park that was known for being "used as a race track", before tragedy struck.
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Sohail Zulfiqar, 20, was in the car alongside four other lads when it ploughed through a railing - falling 10ft down a verge towards a busy A road on Sunday night, in north west London.
Sohail, who has been pictured for the first time, was just 10 days away from turning 21, when he was one of the three pronounced dead at the scene.
Best friends Mohammed Zedani and Mohammed Gazi, both 22, were also killed.
Two others, who have not been named yet, were rushed to hospital following the smash.
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One remains in a critical condition while the other's injuries are not life-threatening, say cops.
It is not yet clear who was driving the Mercedes when all five university friends were plunged into bushes on the roadside.
It is understood the group had finished up a session at gym branch The Gym, at Staples Corner retail park, around 11pm.
The Mercedes is believed to have had its roof down when it crashed.
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Sohail, who was studying computer science at Brunel University in Uxbridge, was described by his younger brother as the "strongest person I know".
Heartbroken sibling Shaan today said: "My brother was the most generous person, he was very kind.
"He was the strongest person I know.
"He would do anything for anyone, he'd always help you. Everybody loved him, anyone you asked would say he was the best person you could meet.
"It's crazy how things can change overnight."
Another relative of one of the three men, who did not want to be named, said one of the two men injured in the crash was awake in hospital.
He said: "We are just waiting to hear from the police how this happened.
"Hopefully the friend who is now awake will be able to shed some light on it."
Staff at the retail park said the car park is often used for racing.
An employee said: “The gym is open late and it does attract a lot of people who meet up in the car park and have a chat and unfortunately race around the car park.
“There’s not many other places around here you could do that.
“Some family members came here this morning. It’s three lives that have been lost so far, it’s tragic.”
One of their pals said he was still coming to grips with the men's deaths - and said they'd be remembered as "lovely".
The friend told the Evening Standard: “They were such lovely boys, we are all devastated.
"They were studying together. They did everything together. They studied and went to the gym together.
"They were good boys, very intelligent. They went to the same university.
“How could this have happened we need to know. We need more information. The family are still waiting for answers.”
Inspector William McDonald, from Met Police, said the force is looking to trace everyone who was in the car park at the time.
A number of cars were present shortly before the "terrible accident", although it is not believed the Mercedes collided with any of them.
No arrests have been made and the car was not stolen, says Insp McDonald.
He added:“Emergency services responded last night to what seems to have been a terrible accident.
“An urgent police investigation is under way to establish the full circ*mstances, led by detectives from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.
“Officers are in the process of informing the families of the five young people.
"The families are being supported by specialist officers. I send them my sincere condolences.”
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The recovery process was extremely complicated, say cops, as they were forced to close roads - all of which have now reopened.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant mobile phone or dashcam footage is asked to call 101, reference 7502/14 April.
