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Barnsley driver forced to give up after head-on horror crash
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36351
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Author:  StuartW [ Fri Nov 20, 2020 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Barnsley driver forced to give up after head-on horror crash

Suppose this is more human interest stuff than trade-related, but he was working at the time, and carrying a passenger :?


Barnsley taxi driver pulled from the burning wreckage of his cab after horror head-on crash

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/loc ... ts-section

His injuries meant he had to give up his career

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Antony and Cristiane a few weeks before the crash (Image: Irwin Mitchell/Examiner Live)

A taxi driver is lucky to be alive after being pulled from his burning cab, which had been engulfed by flames after a devastating crash.

Antony Gray, 44, was seriously injured when a car veered onto the wrong side of Sheffield Road, Barnsley and ploughed head-on into Antony's taxi, in January last year.

The crash, which happened just before midnight on January 20, left Antony with broken legs, a shattered hip, a shattered knee and a head injury.

His passenger, a teenager, was left with a bleed on the brain and a fractured eye socket.

The crash was so severe that Antony's taxi went up in flames and both he and his passenger had to be pulled from the burning wreckage.

Now, getting on for two years after the crash, Antony is still suffering the effects of his injuries and is unable to play with his baby daughter - as he is not strong enough to pick her up.

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Image: Irwin Mitchell/Examiner Live

Antony's wife, Cristiane, was seven months pregnant at the time of his ordeal and his little girl, Victoria, is now 19 months old.

Antony said: "Not being able to help care for Victoria has been the most difficult thing to accept. Even when she was a newborn the only way I could feed her was when sat down and Cristiane had to pass her to me.

"I still can’t lift her up or take her upstairs because my injuries mean I don’t have the strength I should and I’d risk dropping her.

"Now Victoria is developing more and becoming inquisitive I should be chasing her round and playing with her, but I just can’t do that.

"This should be the most special time of our lives but not being able to do things most dads take for granted has really affected me."

Following the horrific crash, Antony spent more than three weeks at Northern General Hospital and had seven screws fitted in his left hip and knee, as well as having 10 metal pins in his right leg.

He now needs to use a walking stick to get around, as his leg has been permanently disfigured by the crash.

Recalling the terrifying night, Antony said: "All I remember is coming round and seeing flames in the cab. I was in so much pain and couldn't move.

"Then two men came and dragged me out of the cab to safety. After only a few seconds of being laid beside the road away from the fire I looked back at my car and the engine exploded.

"All I could think of was Cristiane being pregnant at home and I looked down at my lower body that was severely broken and damaged.

"The next thing I remember was opening my eyes in a hospital bed seeing my wife and mother crying. I was covered in wires with machines beeping all around me.

"All I could think of was my baby that was due to arrive soon and I was in such a state. We were so excited for the future and Victoria’s birth but a lot of that changed overnight."

Due to the nature of his injuries, Antony has also had to give up his career as a taxi driver, a job he had been doing for 12 years.

He said: "I used to love being a taxi driver. You would get to meet and talk to all different kinds of people. Having to accept that this is something I won’t be able to return to has also been difficult.

"You never think something like this will happen to you and you’ll never realise how many tears, ups and downs you and your family have to go through until you hear the sirens coming."

Antony has been having rehabilitation sessions and he said that these have helped him massively, alongside his faith as a member of the Love Life UK Church.

And Cristiane has praised her husband for his strength and said that he is "still a wonderful husband and dad".

She said: "Despite everything Antony has been through he’s still a wonderful husband and dad. Things haven’t been easy but we’re determined to help Antony make the best recovery possible

"He’s starting to make great progress through his rehab and I’m so proud of the determination he shows. We just hope our story acts as a warning for the need for people to take care on the roads."

The couple, from Cudworth, Barnsley, are now supporting Road Safety Week which is organised by road charity, Brake and runs from November 16 to 22.

Elizabeth Whitehead, serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who are representing Antony and have helped to secure him funds for his rehab, said that his case must act as a warning to careless drivers.

She said: "Antony’s case vividly highlights how the serious injuries people suffer in crashes not only greatly impact on that person’s life but also the lives of their family.

"The last year or so has been incredibly difficult not only for Antony but also Cristiane. What should have been such a joyous occasion for them, welcoming Victoria into the world, has been tainted by the crash and Antony’s battle to try and overcome his injuries."

The driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court in October 2019.

They received a driving ban and a fine.

Author:  edders23 [ Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Barnsley driver forced to give up after head-on horror c

A driving ban and a fine after destroying someones life :sad: I wouldn't call that justice

Author:  Sussex [ Sat Nov 21, 2020 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Barnsley driver forced to give up after head-on horror c

A reminder in that none of us know what's around the corner.

That said the fella has a lovely wife and a gorgeous baby, so despite his horrendous accident, he has got a lot to look forward too.

Author:  edders23 [ Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Barnsley driver forced to give up after head-on horror c

Sussex wrote:
A reminder in that none of us know what's around the corner.

That said the fella has a lovely wife and a gorgeous baby, so despite his horrendous accident, he has got a lot to look forward too.



assuming he can get over this and rebuild his life! This is the sort of thing that sends people on a downward spiral;i sincerely hope that doesn't happen to him.

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