Taxi Driver Online

Driver with epilepsy jailed over death crash


A driver with a history of epilepsy caused the death of a woman by playing "Russian roulette" with his condition, police have said.

Philip Chapman, 56, from Rayleigh, Essex, was jailed for six years after crashing into four cars in Southend while having an epileptic seizure.

Linda Brooks, 68, was fatally injured and three others, including a two-year-old child, were seriously hurt.

Chapman admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He also pleaded guilty to three charges of causing grievous bodily harm.

Insp Damon Bainbridge, of Essex Police, said: "Philip Chapman had a serious medical condition but was self employed and felt he needed to drive.

Strict rules

"He was in fact playing Russian roulette as he could have become ill at any time.

"Sadly, when he did, this resulted in Mrs Brooks' death and serious injuries to a number of other people.

"He will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life."

Van driver Chapman was sentenced to six years in jail and banned from driving for life at Thursday's sentencing hearing at Basildon Crown Court.

The crash happened on Sutton Road, in Southend, on 15 September last year.

Mrs Brooks, from Hockley, Essex, died in hospital two weeks after the crash.

Chapman had not told the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about the full extent of his condition.

A spokeswoman for the charity Epilepsy Action said there were strict rules for drivers diagnosed with epilepsy.

"It is against the law for people with epilepsy who have seizures to drive unless their seizures occur only during sleep," she said.

"All drivers with a diagnosis of epilepsy must inform the DVLA. People with epilepsy who have been seizure free for one year can drive.

"However, all drivers have a legal obligation to inform the DVLA if they have a seizure and they must stop driving. They can apply or reapply for a driving licence as long as they have been free from seizures completely for one year."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-15790030

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

What has this to do with taxis

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

It's, it's, it's, it's, be, be, be, because Captain Cab posted it.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Oh well that's ok then we can just read any sh*te he chooses not to read properly before he posts it alternatively he may explain himself in due course

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

It was posted as a general warning for all drivers who have medical ailments who choose not to disclose them.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I take a guy to work every morning who suffers from the above, he can't drive because he's not been clear a year. When he gets to the 11 month of his fit free year bang he has one so it puts him back another year.

It's a very good post IMO,

Not disputing whether it's a good post just didn't understand why it was posted but now I do. I expect to see a post shortly regarding the unfortunate coach accident that seen a teacher killed and others injured so that we may appreciate to seriousness of driving tired

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

very good for trade we have just started a new contract with a chap who is in the same position worth £250 a week for about 3 months at least hopefully longer

But seriously there was a case locally about 12 years ago a taxi driver who blacked out at the wheel hit a wall and was killed fortunately no passengers in the car at the time. Ours is not a proffession for taking risks like that the consequences can be fatal

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