Taxi driver who ignored his passenger's warning to slow down crashed his cab into car at junctionWHEN a taxi driver
with limited English seemed to be driving too fast, his concerned passenger tried to slow him down.
But the warning went unheeded and Eshan Ellahi drove on and smashed into another car at a junction, Bristol Crown Court heard.
A woman and young passengers in the other car suffered cuts and bruises and whiplash injuries.
The 24-year-old, of Bloy Street in Easton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in November last year.
Judge Julian Lambert handed him a four months jail term, suspended for two years.
He was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, disqualified from driving for a year, and told to pass an extended driving test.
The judge told him: "You are the only person who is to blame for this accident. No-one else.
"It was a serious piece of dangerous driving. You ignored a warning and you drove the car far too fast."
James Haskell, prosecuting, said it was 11.45pm on a dark, stormy night when Ellahi collected Andrew West from Shirehampton, to take him to Lawrence Weston.
Mr Haskell said: "The defendant was driving rather fast and continued to drive very fast. It was dark and it was raining."
As the taxi approached the Old Barrow Hill junction a concerned Mr West shouted at the driver to slow down, the court heard.
Mr Haskell said: "They arrived at the junction and there were bright lights to Mr West's left. The next thing he remembers is a loud bang and the air bag activated. He thought he was going to die."
The court heard Emma Hartrey was driving her son 17-year-old son and two of his friends in the other car, which was written off.
She confirmed she and her son received significant physiotherapy for whiplash injuries suffered.
Ellahi told police he stopped at the junction and the other car was speeding and hit him.
The court had ordered an Urdu interpreter, who didn't turn up, so Ellahi sat next to barrister Jonathan Stanniland who mitigated and explained proceedings.
Mr Stanniland said his client was a car restorer and taxi driver and a driving ban would cause significant financial hardship for him.
He said: "It is a momentary lapse case. He was forewarned by Mr West regarding his speed. Mr West didn't notice the other car until the taxi crossed the white lines of the junction. Mrs Hartrey didn't see the taxi until it was too late to avoid."
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