Taxi Driver Online

Seems to have been quite a bit of publicity about this, particularly because of the wrong-way collision involving the police car near Middlesbrough at the weekend.

But I initially thought Tacsi Zoe was a strange name for someone (even in Wales), until I realised

(Although presumably the proprietor's name is Zoe...)

Great photo, though - but presumably just a random shot from Google of the road in question, which doesn't add much to the story...


Anglesey taxi firm issues statement over A55 'wrong way' incident

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north- ... t-34514330

Tacsi Zoe said the whole situation had been 'scary and traumatic'

https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/article ... SEYJPG.jpg

A taxi firm has issued a statement after a man was arrested for driving a vehicle the wrong way down the A55 last night. The incident happened on Monday evening where drivers reported seeing a vehicle going in the wrong direction along the A55.

North Wales Police stopped the vehicle and a man was arrested. The force said this had followed a collision on London Road in Holyhead, in which a cyclist was injured.

It had been understood the vehicle involved was owned by Tacsi Zoe, a firm based on Anglesey.

Tacsi Zoe today said one of their vehicles was stolen yesterday and that none of their drivers were involved in the A55 incident.

The statement said: "I was personally caught up in this and, like many others, found the whole situation extremely scary and traumatic.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that this was NOT myself or any of my drivers.

"A huge thank you to all the police officers involved for their quick response and for bringing the situation to a safe conclusion.

"The police are asking anyone who may have CCTV, dashcam footage or photographs of damaged vehicles connected to the incident to contact 101 and obtain a crime reference number so that the information and damage can be properly recorded and dealt with."

North Wales Police last night said: "One man has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in police custody while enquiries continue. The A55 was temporarily closed while officers dealt with the incident and ensured the road was safe to reopen.

"Prior to the vehicle entering the A55 a person was knocked off a bicycle on London Road in Holyhead, sustaining non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. A number of parked vehicles were also damaged. We can confirm that there were no collisions as a result of the vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the A55. Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing, and no further details are available at this time.

"North Wales Police acknowledge in light of the recent events that have taken place involving Cleveland police the feelings that this incident may attract. We would like to offer our condolences to all those affected by those tragic events."

weird name for a taxi company and of course they would say the vehicle was stolen. I wonder if it will turn out to be an ex driver of said business ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Dad high on cocaine who stole minibus, drove wrong way on A55 and hit a cyclist jailed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmz7x7ddg7l8o



A dad-of-two high on drink and drugs who stole a minibus, hit a cyclist and drove the wrong way along a dual carriageway has been jailed.

Darragh O'Grady, 31, from Dublin, arrived by ferry in Holyhead, Anglesey, where he stole a woman's phone and her bank cards that he used to spend between £100 and £200.

Sentencing O'Grady at Caernarfon Crown Court to three years, Judge Betts said it was "only a matter of sheer luck that you didn't kill yourself or someone else".

O'Grady had admitted taking cocaine and Valium, as well as drinking alcohol. He admitted he had a history of mental illness and episodes of schizophrenia.

O'Grady, who has two young children, arrived in Holyhead on 24 August to see his uncle who lived in the UK.

He stole the minibus belonging to a taxi firm, which he drove around Holyhead, before hitting cyclist Richard Owen Roberts with a wing mirror, knocking him unconscious.

Roberts was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital, where he was treated for two broken ribs, a cut to his liver and widespread abrasions.

O'Grady passed a second cyclist at speed, who believed he would also have been hit if the taxi's wing mirror had not already been damaged.

The defendant then drove on the A55 at speed heading east on the westbound carriageway, and was "swerving in and out of lanes", hitting vehicles as they tried to avoid him.

A driver who witnessed the incident said in a victim impact statement she felt a "sense of her life passing before" her eyes.

The owner of the taxi said they felt "violated and angry" at what happened, having discovered the stolen vehicle coming towards them in the wrong direction. They had to swerve in the road to avoid it.

With O'Grady refusing to stop, a police stinger was deployed, the court heard.

Officers said it was clear O'Grady - who was filmed by another motorist giving a thumbs up as he drove on the wrong side of the road - was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but he refused to be tested at the scene.

Three days after the offences took place, O'Grady pleaded guilty to seven offences at magistrates' court.

A psychiatric report was ordered but not completed before Tuesday's hearing, with O'Grady saying he wanted the matter dealt with.

The court was told that O'Grady admitted to having a criminal record in Ireland and told the probation service he had spent time in what was described as a "custodial setting".

In his defence it was said O'Grady had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and felt genuine remorse for his actions.

Judge Betts said it was "completely stupid and ridiculous" for O'Grady to have driven on the A55 in the way he did, adding that "it's very difficult to understand why you did any of this".

As well as pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, for which was jailed for three years, O'Grady also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen, aggravated taking of the taxi at Holyhead, theft of a woman's mobile phone, fraud using bank cards, and driving with no licence and no insurance.

He has been banned from driving for five and a half years and must take an extended driving test before he can drive again in the UK.

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IDFIMH