Mini-cab driver diced with death at level crossing Having dropped off a passenger, the Camcab driver swerved into the opposite lane to avoid the lowering safety barriers, then swerved back as he crossed the tracks.
Slawomir Oszwa, of Cambridge Road, Milton, had continued over the Foxton level crossing on July 20 even though red lights were flashing, magistrates in Cambridge heard yesterday.
Camcab said the company was not aware of the incident until contacted yesterday by the News and would be taking further action.
The court heard the 49-year-old had dropped off a student in Station Road in Foxton, was waiting for the crossing to be clear and was planning to drive into Cambridge to carry on working.
Paul Brown, prosecuting, said: “It (Oszwa’s car) has not stopped at the line as he needed to. It has gone over the red lights, carried on over the crossing and under the lowering entry barriers.”
Oszwa, who represented himself, said through an interpreter he wanted to apologise and said he had had a “heavy day”.
He said: “When I crossed this railway level crossing I knew I had committed a minor offence and I realised I would be punished for that.
“On that day I finished my work and because of that incident I went home.
“I do my best to be a responsible person, I have got three sons, two of them are students and my main responsibility is to provide for them to obtain a proper level of education, that’s why I came to this country.”
Magistrate Dr Christine Shaw told the defendant it is very dangerous for motorists to try to drive through barriers as they are closing.
She said: “There have been fatalities on railway crossings in this county within this year and I have seen publicity campaigns on television and in newspapers highlighting the dangers of driving across railway crossings like that.
“As a taxi driver, we expect a high standard of responsible driving from you.”
Oszwa had pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.
She disqualified him from driving for 28 days, fined him £400, ordered him to pay £70 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
A spokesman for Camcab confirmed Oszwa was one of their drivers. He said Camcab was not aware of the incident until the company was contacted by the News and they would be taking action.
Their legal team was visiting them today, he said, and they would also talk to the council.
He said: “We do take the matter very seriously.
“The drivers are self-employed even though they represent the company.”
source:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/
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