From the local Rag...
Taxi driver arrested after pedestrian dies on Plymouth crossing
A SOUTHWAY man has died after he was in collision with a taxi minibus on a busy Plymouth road.
Police have launched an investigation into the death, which is understood to have happened on a pedestrian crossing in Woolwell.
A city taxi driver was arrested last night on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The 43-year-old has been released on bail until January 17.
The incident triggered long queues on roads in the north of Plymouth as collision investigators worked at the scene.
Emergency services were called at 10.45am yesterday after a 999 call from a mobile phone alerted them to a serious collision on the northbound carriageway of Tavistock Road.
A South Western Ambulance Service spokesman said a rapid response vehicle and frontline crew arrived at the scene within seven minutes.
The injured man, who was not named last night but is believed to be in his 50s or 60s, was rushed to Derriford Hospital by ambulance, arriving at 11.05am.
He was pronounced dead a short while later. Police were tracing his next-of-kin last night.
A large area at the Woolwell Roundabout was cordoned off with police tape as around half a dozen units were drafted in to direct traffic.
One man who arrived at the scene shortly after the collision said an 'elderly' man was thought to have been crossing the road with shopping at the time.
A silver eight-seater AA Taxis minibus remained parked in the road a few yards past the pedestrian crossing, while a bundle of bags lay beside the central reservation. It is understood the taxi was carrying one passenger when the crash happened, close to the giant Tesco superstore.
A man, understood to be the driver of the taxi minibus, was taken to Charles Cross Police Station for questioning before later being arrested.
Highways Agency staff assisted police in putting diversions in place, which remained for around five hours.
Tavistock Road was immediately closed northbound from The George junction.
Vehicles were diverted through Woolwell until a contra-flow was put in place at around 1.15pm.
A police spokesman said traffic did not ease until around 4.30pm, with tailbacks originally stretching as far as Crownhill, Estover and Southway.
Officers had to deal with some drivers who were angry about the delay to their journeys.
One nearby resident said sat-nav systems appeared to be diverting vehicles, including articulated lorries, into his quiet cul-de-sac.
There was also disruption to Plymouth Citybus' Number 59 service, which could not reach passengers north of the roundabout.
A spokesman for Albert Road-based AA Taxis declined to comment on the incident until more details became clear. Police have appealed for any witnesses that have not yet come forward to do so.
Anyone with information should call police on 08452777444 quoting log number 269 of December 13.
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/TA ... ticle.html
Of course Journalists still don't know the difference between Taxis and Private Hire.
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