Man Charged After Fatal Romford A12 Crash; Court Date Set – Romford 2026

Key Points

• A 28-year-old motorcyclist, Anwar Shinwari, died in a collision with a car on the A12 in Romford on the evening of Sunday, 19 July 2026.
• The driver of the car fled the scene on foot before being arrested days later.
• Lee Culleton, 45, from Canvey Island, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and fraudulent use of a registration mark.
• Culleton appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27 July, was remanded into custody and is due next at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 August.
• A GoFundMe has been launched to raise funds to repatriate Mr Shinwari to Afghanistan and support his family with funeral costs.

Romford (East London Times) July 28, 2026 –A man has been charged after a motorcyclist died in a collision with a car in east London. The incident occurred at around 9.20pm on Sunday, 19 July, on the Whalebone Lane section of the A12 in Romford, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The Met attended, along with the London Ambulance Service, London’s Air Ambulance and the London Fire Brigade, but the motorcyclist died at the scene. He has since been identified as 28-year-old Anwar Shinwari, whose next-of-kin are being supported by specialist officers, the force said.

The driver of the car fled the scene on foot, with the Met swiftly launching an investigation. The force has confirmed that they have since arrested a 45-year-old man in connection with the incident.

Who has been charged and what are the allegations?

Lee Culleton, 45, from Canvey Island, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and fraudulent use of a registration mark, the Met said in a statement.

As reported by the Metropolitan Police, Culleton appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded into custody, and will next appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 August.

What has been said about the victim and his family?

The motorcyclist who died has been named as 28-year-old Anwar Shinwari. The Met said specialist officers are supporting his next-of-kin. No further personal details about Mr Shinwari have been released by police at this stage.

A GoFundMe has been launched in a bid to raise funds to repatriate Mr Shinwari to Afghanistan and support his family with funeral costs, according to details shared alongside the police update.

The fundraising page sets out the aim of covering repatriation, burial in Afghanistan and financial support to the grieving family, reflecting the costs typically involved in such cases.

What charges does Lee Culleton face and when is the next court date?

Lee Culleton faces multiple charges connected to the collision and its aftermath. Alongside causing death by dangerous driving, he is accused of failing to stop after the crash, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and fraudulent use of a registration mark, according to the Met’s charging notice.

He appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27 July, and was remanded into custody. He is scheduled to appear next at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 August, the force confirmed.

What emergency services responded to the crash?

Multiple emergency services were deployed to the scene. The Met, London Ambulance Service, London’s Air Ambulance and the London Fire Brigade all attended the collision on the A12 at Whalebone Lane, but the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, the Met said.

What is known about the suspect’s background and arrest timeline?

The Met said a 45-year-old man was arrested on Saturday, 25 July in connection with the investigation, before being charged and brought before magistrates the following day.

Culleton, of Rattwick Drive, Canvey Island, was subsequently charged and remanded, with the next hearing set for late August at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Has any community fundraising been started for the victim’s family?

A GoFundMe has been launched to raise funds to repatriate Mr Shinwari to Afghanistan and support his family with funeral costs. Such campaigns are commonly used to cover repatriation and burial expenses, which can be significant, and to provide immediate financial support to bereaved families.

Background: How did this development unfold?

The fatal collision took place on Sunday, 19 July, at approximately 9.20pm on the Whalebone Lane stretch of the A12 in Romford, a major route through east London.

Despite the attendance of multiple emergency services, including London’s Air Ambulance, the motorcyclist died at the scene. Police identified him as 28-year-old Anwar Shinwari and said specialist officers are supporting his next-of-kin.

The driver of the car fled the scene on foot, prompting an immediate investigation by the Met. On Saturday, 25 July, officers arrested a 45-year-old man in connection with the incident.

Lee Culleton, 45, from Canvey Island, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and fraudulent use of a registration mark.

He appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27 July, was remanded into custody and is due to appear next at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 August.

Alongside the criminal proceedings, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the costs of repatriating Mr Shinwari’s body to Afghanistan and to support his family with funeral expenses.

Prediction: How might this development affect local road users and the community?

The charging of a driver following a fatal collision on a busy arterial road such as the A12 is likely to heighten awareness among local motorists, motorcyclists and residents about road safety and the consequences of dangerous driving.

For families and friends of Mr Shinwari, the progress of the case may bring a measure of clarity as the legal process continues toward a crown court hearing in August.

For the wider east London community, particularly those who use the A12 corridor regularly, the incident and subsequent charges may reinforce calls for continued enforcement of traffic laws and scrutiny of disqualified or uninsured driving.

The existence of a fundraising effort also indicates that the case has resonated locally, with residents potentially mobilising to support the victim’s family during repatriation and funeral arrangements.

As the case proceeds to Snaresbrook Crown Court, further details may emerge in open court that could inform local road safety debates, including around hit-and-run offences and the use of registration marks, given the specific charges brought against the defendant.