Not strictly a trade-related thing this, because it could have happened to anyone on the road, but obviously pretty awful for the driver.
Bournemouth man jailed after crashing head-on into taxi while fleeing policehttps://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/ ... ng-police/
Image: Dorset EchoA DANGEROUS driver who smashed head-on into a taxi while fleeing police in a stolen car has been jailed. Taxi driver Derek Watson has not been able to return to work due to the injuries he suffered in the crash caused by Gareth Glendor Picton on Saturday, January 19.
The 46-year-old, who spent over six weeks in hospital for a broken pelvis and smashed ankle, said he was still unable to walk without the aid of crutches and will not be behind the wheel again until July.
Picton, of Milton Road in Charminster, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to a string of offences, including dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, causing damage to a vehicle and failing to stop for officers. He also admitted a charge of making off from a petrol station without payment and burglary.
The court heard a grey Vauxhall Insignia was stolen in Vale Road, Bournemouth sometime between January 8 and 18. On January 19, 38-year-old Picton was spotted driving the stolen car to a petrol station in Bath Road, filling it with £40 worth of petrol and driving away without paying.
At around 9am the same day, police in a marked car saw the stolen Vauxhall being driven with a space saver wheel on and a damaged wing mirror. Officers followed the car and tried to stop it.
It was followed onto Holdenhurst Road, along Wellington Road, Beechey Road, and Charminster Road. A marked car pulled across Charminster Road and requested the car to stop. However, Picton drove around the police car and onto the pavement before speeding away, travelling 55mph on the 30mph road. Police stopped following the car due to the nature of the driving and the speed.
A short time later, he crashed into Mr Watson’s Skoda Octavia taxi in Charminster Road, near to the junction with St Alban’s Crescent. A 15-year-old girl who was a passenger in the back of the taxi suffered minor cuts.
Image: Dorset Echo/Michelle SheriffWhen officers arrived at the scene, both occupants of the Vauxhall had run off.
An 18-year-old was arrested nearby. Picton was arrested later that day in Bournemouth town centre.
An 18-year-old woman from Bournemouth was arrested in connection with the incident and remains released under investigation.
Picton was jailed for two years and disqualified from driving for three years. He was told he would have to take an extended re-test before getting his licence back.
Mr Watson, who works for Winton-based Mobile Radio Cars and has been a cabbie for 20 years, said he had been virtually house-bound since the crash.
“I’ve only just started walking with crutches. Luckily, I’ve got quite a bit of savings but hopefully I’ll get compensation.
“I don’t really care about the driver who crashed into me. He wasn’t going out to hurt me – he was just being stupid.”
Speaking after Picton’s sentencing, Detective Constable Rob Roaf, of Bournemouth police, said: “Gareth Picton was already banned from the road when he took the decision to drive a stolen car. When confronted by officers he failed to stop and drove at excessive speeds in an attempt to get away. His dangerous driving led to a collision, which left the driver with a serious injury.
“Dorset Police takes these matters extremely seriously and we will fully investigate these incidents to ensure offenders are charged and brought before the court.”
Due to the fact that a police vehicle was in contact with the Vauxhall shortly before the collision, the matter was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). They concluded that it would be investigated locally and this investigation is ongoing.
Image: Dorset Echo/BHVape
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