IN THE NEWS
BARNSLEY TAXI DRIVER WINS ‘SUBSTANTIAL’ PAY-OUT OVER HORROR CRASH
A South Yorkshire taxi driver has won a ‘substantial’ pay-out after a horror crash in which his cab burst into flames. The Star reports that Antony Gray had to be pulled from his burning cab after a car which had veered onto the wrong side of Sheffield Road, Barnsley, ploughed head-on into his vehicle. The 44-year-old’s legs were broken and he suffered a shattered left hip and knee as well as a head injury in the crash. His teenage passenger suffered a bleed on the brain and fractured eye socket. Antony’s injuries meant he had to give up his career as a driver. His wife Cristiane was seven months pregnant with their daughter, Victo-
Antony and Cristiane Gray before the accident
ria, at the time. Serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have secured a ‘substantial’ interim
LIVERPOOL CABBIE WHO SAVED NHS WORKER SAYS: “I DIDNT DO IT FOR A REWARD
A kind-hearted cab driver who came to the rescue of an NHS worker and then declined any money for his efforts was thanked by his bosses. According to the Liverpool Echo, the modest driver, who only wanted to be known as Paul, was flagged down in his white cab by Bridget Draisey, who locked herself out of her car. The community occupational therapist was out on visits on Monday, November 16 and had phoned for a private taxi to take her to her next visit. But when it had not arrived after 25 minutes she managed to flag down a white Liverpool City Council hackney cab, which just happened to be Paul’s. Bridget said: “He took me to my next visit, waited and returned me to my car where my son was waiting to give me the spare key. “I was about to get into my car and fetch my purse to pay the driver and he said he didn’t want any payment and was just trying to help out.
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“This taxi driver saved me from a very stressful situation and enabled me to visit a patient who was waiting for my services. His kindness went above and beyond what I would expect anyone to do and I owe him a great debt of grati- tude. What a star!” After she contacted the Echo to tell her story the identity of the driver became known. However Paul would only let Alpha Taxi bosses - who presented him with a £25 fuel voucher for his kindness - share his first name because he told them he didn’t do it for any reward.
payment for Antony to fund rehabilita- tion and vocational assessments to help him retrain and return to work. Speaking during Road Safety Week, lawyer Elizabeth Whitehead said: “Antony’s case vividly highlights how the serious injuries people suffer in crashes not only greatly impact on that person’s life but also the lives of their family. “The last year or so has been incredibly difficult not only for Antony but also Cristiane. What should have been such a joyous occasion for them, welcoming Victoria into the world, has been taint- ed by the crash and Antony’s battle to try and overcome his injuries.” Antony was knocked unconscious in the crash and when he came round he noticed flames in his vehicle. Passers-by came to his rescue and helped Antony, who could not walk because of his injuries, out of his cab. A few seconds later the engine exploded and the vehicle was engulfed in flames. He was taken to Northern General Hos- pital where he underwent a number of operations and spent more than three weeks there. Antony, who had been a taxi driver for 12 years, had seven screws fitted in his left hip and knee as well as 10 metal pins in his right leg. His right leg remains disfigured and he requires a walking stick. He said: “All I remember is coming round and seeing flames in the cab. I was in so much pain and couldn’t move. Then two men came and dragged pulled me out of the cab to safety.” The couple, from Cudworth, Barnsley, are now supporting Road Safety Week which is organised by road charity, Brake and runs from November 16 to 22. The driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention at Barns- ley Magistrates’ Court in October 2019 and received a driving ban and a fine.
DECEMBER 2020
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