Taxi Driver Online

27 December 2007

Stolen taxi driver in cliff death

A man has died after a taxi was hijacked at knifepoint and driven over
a cliff on South Tyneside.

The Nissan Primera was stolen from its 41-year-old owner at the Coast
Road in South Shields.

Soon afterwards, it crashed through a barrier at Marsden Grotto and
plunged 120ft (36m) onto the beach.

It is not yet known whether the crash, on Wednesday evening, was a
deliberate act or if the 22-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "A report was received that a local
man had been robbed at knifepoint and his car was stolen.

"This vehicle was then driven off towards Whitburn. It crashed through the
barrier and was driven over the cliff and on to the beach.

"As a result of this impact, the occupant was fatally injured. The
emergency services attended and the fire service released the man from
the car."

Source: BBC News