Taxi-driver denies mowing down youth

A TAXI association has defended a driver over claims he ran down a teenager for not paying a fare.

Charles Oakes, chairman of the Hackney Drivers’ Association which covers Oldham, said the driver denied the allegations. Vincent Wood, of Richmond Avenue, Chadderton, claimed his son Verl (16) was mowed down by the driver in a ginnel between Coalshaw Green Road and Coalshaw Green Park at about 5am last Saturday.

Mr Oakes said the driver admits there was an incident but denied running over the teenager.

He said: “We have spoken to the driver, we know what has happened and what has not happened.

“Certainly, our driver will be saying quite positively that he hasn’t run anyone down. The association is very sorry about the injuries the youth sustained.

“These injuries have to be explained, and what happened has to be found out.

“Hopefully the police will find out exactly what happened.”

Mr Oaks said the man, from Oldham, who has been a taxi driver for 10 months, has made a formal statement to the police.

He said: “There is no doubt we don’t know exactly what happened at the scene.

“It is very common for taxi drivers to be accused of things when people try to make off and don’t want to pay.

“I understand the father is very upset but what was this youth doing out at that time of the morning?”

Police have arrested a man in connection with the incident and he has been bailed until October 13.