The mother of a man who survived a fatal horror crash said today: "I am just glad he's alive."

Susan Harney said getting the news from the police about the head-on smash was "every mother's nightmare."

Her son John Gaukroger, 21, was a passenger sitting behind the driver who was killed in the crash between a Ford Sierra and a Toyota Avensis taxi in Boothtown Road, Boothtown, Halifax.

He broke both his ankles and had to be cut free.

And he has told his mum of the final seconds before the impact in which Paul Gilliam, 31, who was driving, died.

Mrs Harney, of the Royal Oak pub, Ambler Thorn, Queensbury, said: "He had his seatbelt on luckily and suddenly saw the headlights coming towards them. He said he just ducked on intuition. Then he blacked out. He came round as they were cutting him out."

Mrs Harney said her son had been in Halifax on Saturday night. He had come home then went round to a friend's house.

They were going for cigarettes when the tragedy happened at about 4am on Sunday.

"I have seen these lads grow up together and this is every mother's nightmare," she said. "He knows about Paul and is devastated."

Taxi passenger Mark Mahomet, 34, of Burnett Rise, Queensbury, remained in intensive care today after undergoing more surgery. He suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs and internal injuries.

His condition was described as stable in the Calderdale Hospital, Halifax.

His wife Kath, 37, was also in hospital although her injuries were said to be less serious.

Kath's mother Rita said: "Kath can't remember anything about it. One minute they were driving along, the next there was a massive bang.

"They had been out for the night and left their cars and were taking a taxi home."

Taxi driver Ghalib Hussain, 40, of King Cross, Halifax, who suffered serious head injuries, was today in a poorly but stable condition at Leeds General Infirmary.

The other passengers in the Sierra remained in hospital in Halifax. Nathan Hargrave, 24, of Moor Close Lane, Queens-bury, and Steven Tetley 22, of Ford Hill, Queensbury, suffered less serious injuries. Their conditions were desc-ribed as comfortable.

Mr Gilliam, of Granby Street, Queensbury, was pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest was due to open today.