Taxi catches fire in collision
10:20am Sunday 25th April 2010
A taxi burst into flames and was destroyed by fire after a collision on a Bournemouth road.
The driver and female passenger managed to get to safety after the accident at around 6.45am on Saturday.
The Citroen Picasso, operated by United Taxis, was in collision with Seat Toledo at the junction of Knole Road and Southcote Road in Boscombe.
Witness Doug Phillips, 63, a retired officer worker, said: "I came out for a cigarette and saw the front of the cab was completely ablaze.
"The road was filled with smoke. The driver was stood away. He seemed a little bit shocked - you would be! He said it was his first fare of the day."
Munira Deudhia, 39, a laundry worker, said: "I was in the house and I heard a sound like little explosions."
The taxi was left burned out almost in the middle of the junction.
Marilyn Warden, 60, a retired headteacher, said: "That junction is an accident blackspot. I don't know how many times the walls there have been knocked down.
"They need stop signs. There's a school nearby and you worry about the children."
Dorset Police said the 40-year-old taxi passenger had slight injuries and was checked over by paramedics. No-one was arrested.
The police closed the road and the vehicle was recovered at 8.26am. The road was opened shortly afterwards when council staff had finished laying gravel on a fuel spillage.
United Taxis said the driver was off work because he had lost his vehicle and the passenger suffered a neck injury.
Dorset Fire said they were called at 6.50am to a report of an accidental ignition following a traffic accident.
Source; http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8 ... collision/
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