Teenagers Muhammad Danyaal Asghar Ali, 19, Farhan Patel, 18, and Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, 18 also died in the crash after their Seat car collided with Ali’s taxi.
Five passengers were also injured and police are continuing to investigate the circumstances.
Shahid Ali said: “From a young age we used to live just across the street from each other.
“We grew up together, went to school together, in our younger days we spent evenings, afternoons, weekends together, cycling and playing football.
“Then we worked together and did business together, so he was with me basically all my life.
“He was a quiet person who just wanted to do his job like he should have done.
“He was trying to help his young family and this is what happens, early in the morning and we cannot take it back but Allah will give him a better place.”