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Two brothers who were competing in a race on the road have been sentenced after a tragic collision resulted in the death of a father and serious injury to his young son. The incident occurred near Welshpool, Powys, in November 2024, when a BMW X3, driven by Abubakr Ben Yusaf, veered sideways and collided head-on with a Toyota Yaris carrying Rhys Jenkins and his nine-year-old son, Ioan. Unfortunately, Rhys Jenkins died at the scene, while Ioan was airlifted to hospital with severe injuries.
At Mold Crown Court, Abubakr Ben Yusaf received a 14-year prison sentence for causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and causing death while uninsured. His brother, Umar Ben Yusaf, who was driving behind him in a separate car, was handed a sentence of two years and nine months for causing death and serious injury by careless driving. It was revealed that both brothers, who work as locum optometrists, were traveling from Aberystwyth to Manchester at the time and were racing each other on the A483 between Newtown and Welshpool.
Witnesses described the brothers’ reckless behavior on the road, including aggressive tailgating, flashing headlights, and dangerous overtaking maneuvers just before the collision. After the crash, the brothers initially fled the scene, leaving bystanders to assist in rescuing Ioan from the wreck. However, within 40 minutes, Umar Ben Yusaf returned to the area and informed a police community support officer that his brother was responsible for the crash.
The victim, Rhys Jenkins, had been taking Ioan from their home in Meifod to Cardiff to watch their first Wales rugby match together. Following the sentencing, Rhys’ wife Caroline (Carrie) Jenkins spoke about the ongoing impact of the tragedy on her family. She reflected on how she often wondered whether holding her family “a little tighter and a little longer” before they left that day might have changed their future. She described the difficulty life has been for their son Ioan, who not only carries physical injuries but also emotional trauma, saying, “It’s impossible to convey the full impact Rhys’ death had on us,” and that his loss left a “massive hole” in their lives.
Ioan, who sustained broken arms, a fractured rib, and a perforated bowel, expressed a heartfelt wish for his father’s presence as he grows up. Rhys’ youngest son, Gruff, was only six at the time of the crash and recounted the devastating moment when police arrived to inform the family of his father’s death. He described running out of the house in shock, calling it “the worst feeling of my life.” The court also heard that although Umar Ben Yusaf’s car was not directly involved in the collision, his competitive driving alongside his brother significantly contributed to the dangerous circumstances that led to the crash
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