Taxi Driver Online

This is a classic of the Nasty Dangerous Driver Killed My Poor Pooch genre, and as formulaic as the last example I recall on here (Tyneside, as I recall it, but can't be bothered looking back).

Therefore full of emotive language and irrelevant stuff about 20mph zones, that it was next to a school, that it was a residential area, that the streets were well-lit, blah blah. And stuff about the kids' 'furry brother', 'dying in her arms' and breaking the news to 'heartbroken children'.

But absolutely zero to suggest the driver did anything wrong, at least in the driving sense.

Strictly speaking, the law requires that he reports it to the police (although not if it was a cat), but apart from that there's zero evidence presented that he's done anything else wrong. And, I mean, if the owner was there anyway, and the dog was self-evidently dead, would reporting the incident to the police achieve anything unless his driving was at fault?

No doubt it's absolutely terrible for the family, and if it was me I'd be feeling a sense of guilt about it for the rest of my life. And maybe the driver could have done more, in the moral if not legal sense. But, I mean...


Edinburgh nurse heartbroken as dog dies in her arms after being hit by taxi

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/ed ... s-25667197

Laura and her four kids are now facing a Christmas without their furry brother and are absolutely heartbroken over the shocking incident.


Image: Edinburgh Live

An Edinburgh mum has been left heartbroken as her beloved dog was left to die in her arms after being hit by a 'private hire taxi' on December 2.

The incident took place on Buckstone Bank at 8 pm on Friday evening when Laura Kilgallon, 40, was out walking her little [edited by admin] Woody.

When crossing a road in a 20mph zone next to a school the white vehicle struck the eight-year-old pooch before getting out the vehicle and claiming he never saw the dog before driving off to complete the job.

The traumatised nurse told how she was left scrambling for help as the beloved family pet died in her arms before having to go home and break the news to her heartbroken children just weeks before Christmas.

Speaking to Edinburgh Live the devastated healthcare worker said: "It was last night in Buckstone around 8pm.

"I was walking him on his last walk of the day and had a lead on - it was the retractable one. We were crossing the road near the school when he was hit. The taxi went over him and crushed him he had just been walking in front of me and it all happened so fast.

"The driver got out and claimed he didn't see him and stated that he didn't have a light on but as a driver, it is his duty to see him.

"This happened on a local street in a built-up residential area that is a 20mph zone with well-lit streets."

Laura then held little Woody in her arms as she looked for help but tragically when they got him to a vet he was pronounced dead.

She explained: "The driver then headed on his way to take his fare to their destination and I was left walking with my dog in my arms, I didn’t have a mobile phone on me and my dog died in my arms whilst I tried to seek help.

"I took him to the vet hospital and they confirmed he had gone. I’m finding it difficult to look at pictures of him so heartbreaking.

"The driver was Asian and of medium build. As it stands I don’t know if he has reported it."

Laura and her four kids are now facing a Christmas without their furry brother and are absolutely heartbroken over the shocking incident.

She sadly added: "Our Xmas is now tainted he was the best big brother and protector of us. He was a character and our hearts break."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said : "We received a report that a vehicle had struck and killed a dog at 8pm on Friday, 2 December, 2022 on Buckstone Road, Edinburgh. Enquiries are ongoing."


Image: Edinburgh Live

This is from the Compare The Market website, and is presumably a fair statement of the law on the subject. Anyone unclear about how the law relates to other animals should maybe have a look at the full page via the link:

https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-in ... e-driving/

And predictably polarised comments on the website - some almost seem to be claiming he ran the dog over deliberately.

Then stuff about Asians and that they think dogs are 'unclean' animals. Um, I'm surprised the website published her 'Asian' description for a start. And the 'unclean animals' stuff relates to Islam and Muslims, so a bit different from Asian per se.

Then there's the over-callous on the other side - one simply says 'Sqishitzu?'

But the more sensible comments simply saying that it was the owner's responsibility to control the dog. She herself said it was on a retractable lead, so it presumably went on the road when the car was passing, and presumably there was little in the way of safety gear on the dog like an reflective collar or flashing lights

don't get me started on this as the animals owners always assume they are completely blameless for the animal being in a position to get knocked over in the first place.

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

It’s them f#####g retractable leads. I missed a dog by inches once, the dog was at least 5 metres away from the owner using one when another dog ran at it down a path with a gate and it bolted straight in front of me. How I was never reported for my ‘colourful’ language towards the owner I’ll never know.

No way I would give anyone my name and address. Tell the police and tell the dog owners the police have my details and leave it at that.

The reason the dog died was that the owner didn't have control of it, that's the beginning and end of the matter.

Did the driver mean to hit the dog, of course not, but it's easier for the owner to blame the driver rather than those whose actions or inactions led to the death of the dog.

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IDFIMH

For what it's worth, the article above is also in the Daily Record, which is Scotland's equivalent of the Mirror (it's part of the Reach plc group, which also includes the Edinburgh Live site that the article above is from, so they've basically just shared it).

It's also in the totally separate Scottish Sun, but it's essentially a rehash of the stuff above, but with different photos of the 'pooch'.


PET TRAGEDY Taxi driver killed our dog and sped off – now we’re facing Christmas without him, I’m heartbroken

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/9 ... artbroken/

A SCOTS family have been left distraught after their beloved dog was killed when it was struck by a taxi while out on a walk.



The rival Edinburgh Evening News has also covered it (below), but it's more of a different article, with a brief description of the vehicle. But it's essentially the same formula as the piece above, and check out the likes of the stuff about the 'crazy little dude' and 'wee pal' from a 'friend of the family'

Talk about tugging the heartstrings on the one hand, and demonising the driver on the other

Could see the Mail Online covering it soon

Edinburgh dog dies in owner's arm after being struck by private hire taxi in Buckstone

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... ne-3941344

Mum-of-three speaks out about moment beloved pup dies in her arms after being struck by car

An Edinburgh nurse has been left devastated after she watched her beloved dog die in her arms after the pet was struck by a private hire taxi.

Laura Kilgallon, 40, was out walking her [edited by admin] named Woody when the white six-seater vehicle collided with the eight-year-old pet near her home in Buckstone, Edinburgh, on Friday evening. Mum-of-three Laura said she was crossing a 20mph limit road with Woody on a extendable lead when the car struck the dog before the driver exited the vehicle claiming he did not see them.

Laura said the driver then jumped back into his taxi and drove off leaving the traumatised owner to make her own way home with her fatally injured pet. Police Scotland is now conducting enquiries into the incident which took place at the Capital’s Buckstone Gate at around 8pm on Friday night.


Image: Edinburgh Evening News

Laura, who qualified as a nurse last month, posted details of the shocking incident on social media in an attempt to trace the driver of the private hire taxi. She said: “I need your help, my dog was run over in Buckstone beside the [primary] school by a taxi. The driver got out and said he had someone in [the] taxi and left me with my dog in my arms. My dog died in my arms I need to find out if anyone knows anything as this is illegal.”

She added: “The worst day happened yesterday. Our beloved Woody was run over and died in my arms. He’s left a huge hole in our hearts we are heartbroken. He was one of a kind - he’s been with us through everything always protecting us and always up to mischief, We love you Woody.”

Friend of the family and local dog walker Gill Henderson said: “I can’t believe you have been so cruelly taken from your family and all of us who loved you and all your antics. You were such a crazy little dude. I'm so sorry my wee pal.”

Hundreds of locals have also taken to social media to express their shock at the incident. Donna Pringle posted: “OMG Laura, I am so sorry to hear this. Woody was a lovely wee dog - I hope you and your family are OK.”


Image: Edinburgh Evening News

A Police Scotland spokesperson said : “We received a report that a vehicle had struck and killed a dog at 8pm on Friday, 2 December, 2022 on Buckstone Gate, Edinburgh. Enquiries are ongoing.”


Image: Edinburgh Evening News

It's getting worse

New quotes in this STV News article, and it's not even a 'private hire taxi' now, it's just a 'taxi'

But now the driver was actually 'speeding', and 'came out of nowhere'. I wonder what that means in terms of road traffic law?

And it's even worse for the family - the girls can't eat, and the lad is sleeping with the dog's collar...

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Police just going through the motions and not really interested, and we won't hear another peep?

Or the authorities will do their level best to haul the driver over the coals and pin the blame on him

New photos as well, but they're a bit big for on here. But visit the links if you want to see a cat with a bow tie, or a snowman with a carrot for a nose


Family 'devastated' after taxi driver killed dog and fled from scene

https://news.stv.tv/east-central/family ... -edinburgh

https://news.stv.tv/wp-content/uploads/ ... 277011.jpg
Image: STV News

Laura Kilgallon's [edited by admin], Woody, died in her arms after being struck by a speeding taxi in Buckstone Bank, Edinburgh.

A family has been left “devastated” ahead of Christmas after a taxi driver ran over their dog and fled the scene.

Laura Kilgallon was out walking eight-year-old Woody at around 8pm on Friday on Buckstone Bank in Edinburgh when tragedy struck.

While crossing a road in a 20 miles per hour zone, the [edited by admin] was struck by a speeding taxi and went under the wheel.

The driver of the vehicle stopped and said he had passengers, before exiting the scene – leaving Laura alone with Woody who proceeded to die in her arms.

https://news.stv.tv/wp-content/uploads/ ... 276961.jpg
Image: STV News

Mother-of-three Laura told STV News: “We were crossing the road and a taxi came out of nowhere, speeding in a 20 mile per hour zone.

“It all happened so fast, but my poor dog went under his car and was right under his wheel.

“The driver came out of the taxi and said he didn’t have a light off, then jumped back in and said he had passengers.

“He left me with my dog in my arms. He then went on to die in my arms which was confirmed at the vets.

“A lovely couple helped me as I was running crying down the road to get home.”

Laura, 40, has revealed the ordeal has broken her family ahead of Christmas; with her twin daughters left unable to eat while her eight-year-old son has been sleeping with the late dog’s collar.

https://news.stv.tv/wp-content/uploads/ ... 277368.jpg
Image: STV News

She added: “My three kids and the rest of the family are devastated. This Christmas is going to be horrible.

“My eight-year-old son has only ever known Woody in his life and is beside himself. My twin daughters can’t even eat as they feel sick.

“My son is sleeping with his collar.”

Laura has now urged the driver to come forward amidst a police investigation after “leaving her family in bits”.

She said: “It has been reported to police. The driver still hasn’t come forward.

“I want him to come forward. He can’t just walk away and carry on with his fair whilst leaving my family in bits. My dog is dead.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report that a vehicle had struck and killed a dog at 8pm on Friday, December 2, 2022 on Buckstone Road, Edinburgh.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

The narrative about the driver having pax on board and continuing with the run, and the stuff about any illumination on Woody is slightly confusing in all the articles. But the highlighted words above are presumably referring to the fact that Woody had no light on his collar, or similar.

Out of context, people in the trade might read the above as something to do with a taxi's rooflight, or whatever.


'Fare', presumably

But would be interesting to know precisely what she wants from the driver, apart from gaslighting and demonising him in several press outlets. And can you imagine if his identity comes out, and the press rehash it all with his name and maybe photos?

Can't see police doing anything other than with regard to not reporting the accident, and would they really do anything about that other than slap his wrists?

I suspect the dog owner is loving the publicity and hoping that by tugging at peoples heartstrings a big go fund me campaign will deliver a nice big fat cheque for xmas.

Or she thinks (wrongly) that she can get a massive pay-out from the vehicles insurance for the distress and upset caused.

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

I never really think of the insurance angle, but there could be some 'mileage' in that theory.

either way it is now trial by media so i suspect the driver will not want to stick their neck out less they find themselves an ex driver due to the negative publicity

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

why not blame the extending lead, unless the dogs walking to heel your no way in control of it 20 feet away at the end of its long,long lead....it may as well not have been on a lead if it were that far away.

Yes, Bloodnock, reading between the lines it's possibly the fault of the extending lead, or more accurately, and in law, the fault of the owner, whether as regards the lead, or some other way in which the dog wasn't under proper control.

But she's trying to shift the blame to the driver, obviously. What that will achieve is anyone's guess. I'm still a bit dubious about the insurance angle, and somehow doubt it'll end up a police matter beyond going through the motions.

I'd guess she's maybe suffering a bit of a guilt complex, and is using all this to salve her conscience, and maybe shift the blame to the driver as regards how her kids see it.

And all this publicity fits the bill in that regard. But, as Edders says, from the driver's perspective it's trial by media. But no doubt the driver is hoping he'll escape trial by the courts or the licensing committee