Taxi Driver Online

A Gloucestershire taxi driver died when his cab smashed into a wall after he clipped the kerb at an accident black spot, an inquest heard.

Malcolm Vaughan, 47, a cabbie for almost 30 years, was the second driver to die on the same stretch of the A48 at Minsterworth in 10 hours.

Mr Vaughan, of Lichfield Road, Gloucester, was returning from dropping off a fare in Cinderford in the early hours of September 7 last year when his Rover 75 hit the wall of Lyes Abattoir, near the Severn Bore pub.

Another fatal collision happened on the same stretch of road just 10 hours earlier -– although the incidents were unconnected. Residents had also voiced concerns about the state of the road and slippery road surface signs had been placed in the area. Tests by the county council had shown the road surface to be adequate.

At about 4.45am a couple on their way to a car boot sale in Cheltenham saw a damaged car in the yard of the abattoir with its headlights still on.

An ambulance was called and Mr Vaughan was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. He died at 6.45am.

Consultant pathologist Dr John McCarthy said there were no signs of alcohol, drugs or other substances in his system or medical conditions that could have affected him.

Dr McCarthy said Mr Vaughan suffered fractured ribs and chest injuries and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the lungs.

Examinations revealed no mechanical defect or failure in Mr Vaughan's car. Analysis of the scene by police investigators showed it was likely Mr Vaughan's car had clipped the kerb, causing it to swerve.

There was no evidence that the car was being driven in anything other than the normal manner.

Mr Vaughan was born in Gloucester and went to Coney Hill Infant School and Hucclecote Secondary School.

He had four sisters – Mandy Hawkins, Nicola Vaughan, Yvonne Parry and Gail Webb – and one brother, Kevin Vaughan.

Gloucestershire Coroner Alan Crickmore said Mr Vaughan was an experienced taxi driver who was used to working nights. He was rested and within his usual routine.

The coroner said Mr Vaughan momentarily had a lapse of concentration, causing his car to hit the kerb and lose control.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death