Taxi Driver Online

Ilkeston taxi driver hunting for 'very ugly' passenger who caused Eastwood crash after dispute over fare

A taxi driver is appealing for help after claiming a passenger grabbed his steering wheel, caused the car to crash, then fled the scene in Eastwood.

The incident occurred at around 6.20pm on December 15 last year, and police enquiries have hit a dead end.

The driver, who asked not to be named, said: “It is quite clear is that he is a liar and a very dangerous individual without any regard for life. "He was prepared to cause wanton damage to other people’s property to defraud a taxi driver.”

He added: “The man was likely in his 70s, of average build, six feet tall and can only be described as very ugly. "He said his name was Mr Brown, but this may be wrong as he had lied profusely.”

The driver claims he picked up an elderly couple at around 6pm outside the Manor Fish Bar, on South Street in Ilkeston, and they asked to be taken to to Eastwood.

En route the driver and the male passenger got into a dispute about the fare for the journey, with the passenger claiming it should cost £5.40.

By the time the driver had been directed to a cash machine on Alexandra Street in Eastwood the meter recorded a fare of £14. The woman got out of the car but the dispute between the men escalated.

He said: “I told him I could not waste any more time as I had work waiting, would not charge him, but would return him back to South Street so he could negotiate another fare.”

On the return journey, the driver was approaching the junction of Nottingham Road and Dovecote Road at 30mph when the passenger opened his door and grabbed the wheel, steering the car into a wall then a parked car. The passenger then ran off and the traumatised driver had to give up the pursuit.

The driver believes a dog walker on Dovecote Road witnessed the incident but does not know his identity. He said: “If you witnessed this crash, have heard someone bragging that he’d crashed a taxi, or may be able to identify the passengers, please contact the police.”

Sergeant Heather Harding, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Enquiries were carried out at the time to identify the offender, but unfortunately they proved negative.

“We’d like to hear from witnesses, particularly with CCTV or dash cam footage.Call 101, citing incident 643 of December 15, 2019.”

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IDFIMH

Mmmm
70 years old, ran off (!!) and the driver couldn't keep up. Opened the door at the same time as grabbing the steering wheel (hmmm) yet the driver didn't manage to brake or keep control.

One strong and fast 70 yr old, or someone fiddling with the PDA/satnav m'lud.

A strange tale indeed.

For what it's worth, the trip was around five miles, so the clocked £14 seems reasonable, and the passenger's alleged claim that it should be £5.40 clearly ridiculous.

And the incident as portrayed happened about half a mile into the return trip when the driver was taking the OAP back to where he picked him up.

sounds to me to have all the hallmarks of serial bilkers

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector