Taxi Driver Injured In High-speed Police Chase
Thursday, July 30, 2009
A taxi driver has been left lucky to be alive after his cab was hit by a car being chased at 100mph on a country lane by three police cars.
Craig Smith's family has demanded answers after the high-speed police pursuit left the 40-year-old on a life support machine until Monday morning.
He has been left with two badly broken legs, which were crushed in the collision last Saturday night.
Mr Smith's BMW taxi was in collision with a red Volkswagen Golf which was being pursued by three police cars between Watergate Bay and Porth at around 7pm.
The driver of the VW suffered a broken hip and knee and remains in the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro.
The cars collided close to the Sands Resort hotel – with several eye-witnesses watching on in horror.
The case had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and they have now referred this back to Devon and Cornwall Police to investigate.
Rachel Smith, Craig's wife, said the accident has shocked the family.
"I have been told that had he not been in that big BMW, he may well not have survived the impact," she said. "The last thing he remembers is that there was a warning put over the radio of a police chase going on. Then he sees a red Golf coming towards him and that it was broadsiding in the middle of the road. He thought: 'Where do I go?' (to avoid the car), and that's the last thing he remembers."
Craig had been in the RAF for 20 years and also lectured at Truro College. He took on occasional taxi shifts to help pay the bills.
Bob Webb, Craig's father-in-law, said the crash had left the family traumatised.
He said: "They are an honest, hard-working family trying to bring up two kids – they don't deserve this. What are they going to do for income – they were both working two jobs."
Several shocked eye-witnesses also spoke about the crash. One resident, who did not wish to be named, was walking along the cliffs when he heard police sirens.
"My wife and I thought to ourselves, 'this is going to end in an accident'," he said. "We saw the police chasing this hot hatch and then we heard the impact when it hit the other car head-on. I don't know why they were chasing that car at such high speed along narrow roads."
The BMW taxi, belonging to Mr Smith's employers – Carminow Cabs – remains in a compound. Dorothy Boxell, from the company said: "The car had only just been put on the road – it was in 100 per cent condition. But it has been smashed to smithereens."
Sgt Bob Murray, of Newquay police, said: "The family can be assured that there will be a thorough investigation into the vehicle that caused the pursuit and also with the pursuit of the vehicle itself by our officers, leading up to the crash. If he is unhappy, he can take the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."
A spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission said: "It has been decided that the investigation into the road traffic incident can be carried out by Devon and Cornwall Police.
"However, if any further information comes to light which raises concerns, then the case should be re-referred to the IPCC and the level of IPCC involvement can be re-determined. At this stage we have not received any complaints from members of the public about this case, although it may be that they have just not reached us yet."
Source; thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk
Login
Register
FAQ
