Taxi Driver Online

Slightly odd piece this - headline suggest a taxi driver had made off after the crash, but closer reading suggests that it was simply the driver of a taxi. Stolen, I would guess.

Taxi driver on the run after smashing into Cleadon church hall

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... i-16055495

The occupants of the taxi which crashed into the Old Schoolroom on Sunderland Road ran off before police arrived

The driver who crashed head first into a church hall in a taxi fled from the scene.

Police are now appealing for any witnesses who saw the collision at the Old Schoolroom, part of the All Saints Parish Church in Cleadon, South Tyneside.

At around 2am on Sunday, police received a report a vehicle had gone through a wall of the church building.

They have now confirmed that those inside the car ran off before officers arrived.

Attempts to find them are ongoing.


Image: Newcastle Chronicle

No-one was injured but substantial damage has been caused to the building and Sunderland Road remains closed to traffic while structural engineers assess the safety of the building.

A huge hole into the building has been left with collapsed bricks spilling out onto the street.

The road has been fenced off to cars and pedestrians while there are fears that the building has become unsafe and maintenance work is now being carried out.

The collision, involving a black taxi, happened just a few hours after a church event had finished to celebrate the 150th anniversary of All Saints.

The car has been recovered from the scene.


Image: Newcastle Chronicle

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the collision and officers would like to hear from any witnesses to the incident, or drivers who may have dashcam footage.

"Anybody with information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 64 310319 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

A message on the All Saints Parish Church Facebook page read: "We are feeling very thankful that this didn't happen a few hours earlier as we were having pie and peas at the ceilidh, amazingly no one was seriously injured."

Thank the Lord for pie and peas.

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IDFIMH

According to the Shields Gazette the taxi was stolen after an argument with the driver:



For what it's worth, the photos there show the whole structural damage to the building a bit better:




Images: Shields Gazette

itv news site

photo on here shows the church hall located immediately after a sharp bend looks like they missed the bend

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

Seems the driver had gotten out of the car to make a call to police about the scroat, who then jumped into the driver's seat and drove off. Not quite as bad as the recent one where the driver left the passenger in the car while he went into the police station, but doesn't sound like the cleverest thing to do - maybe should have removed keys from ignition before getting out of car?

Of course, we weren't there, so perhaps not good to get too smart-arsed about it without knowing full facts.





And unfortunately the church hall will remain closed for another five months pending repairs

Church hall damaged in stolen taxi crash to stay closed for another five months

https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/chu ... -1-9713041

A church hall hit and partly demolished in a stolen taxi smash will be closed and out of action until at least September, officials have confirmed.

They say part of the interior of the Old Schoolroom at All Saints Church, Cleadon, is being supported by metal scaffolding – and is too unsafe to enter.

Its means busy community classes have had to find new homes within the church and its chapterhouse, causing inconvenience but not deterring participants.

(Full story via link, in unlikely event anyone wants to read it all )