Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver banned after crash pensioner died

TAXI driver Khalid Mahmood Gulzar has been banned from driving after his car hit a pensioner who later died.

Gulzar, aged 36, of Buccleuch Road, Longton, was found guilty of driving without due care and attention following a trial at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court in Fenton yesterday.

His taxi hit 82-year-old George Lloyd as the pensioner crossed Perth Street in Longton on the night of October 10 last year.

Father-of-six Mr Lloyd, who lived in Oldfield Street, was on his way to the nearby Malt N Hops, as he did every night for a pint and a half.

Gulzar's taxi had just turned on to Perth Street from King Street when it hit the pensioner.

The court heard Mr Lloyd suffered a broken arm and leg in the accident and was admitted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Initially he appeared to be recovering, but he died at Bucknall Hospital on November 15. A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death was bronchopneumonia.

Initially Gulzar denied that his taxi hit Mr Lloyd – he told police he stopped in time and Mr Lloyd fell on to the bonnet.

But the court saw a video of a police interview with Mr Lloyd filmed in hospital two days before his death.

In it, he said: "I looked both ways and couldn't see any cars so I kept on walking. I just felt this bump, I didn't know what it was. I thought, who's hit me?"

Dean Twigge, Eden Ball and Wayne Morris had been travelling in Gulzar's cab just before the accident. The court heard evidence from all three to say they had heard a bang, suggesting a car had hit a pedestrian.
Giving evidence yesterday, Gulzar admitted his car had made contact with Mr Lloyd, but insisted he was driving correctly.

He said: "Mr Lloyd was in the road when I saw him. I stopped, the vehicle must have touched him and he fell on to the bonnet and into the road.
"In my opinion I did everything I could to avoid an accident. It was 9.15pm and he was wearing dark clothing – I didn't see him."

District Judge Meirion Lewis-Jones said the accident was due to a lapse of concentration on Gulzar's part.

He said: "Mr Lloyd had been walking along the pavement of a well-lit road. In circumstances where Mr Gulzar should have seen Mr Lloyd and avoided him, there was a momentary lack of attention by Mr Gulzar which led to this accident."

Gulzar, who is married with three children, was fined £100 and disqualified from driving for three months. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Lloyd's daughter Annette Walklate said: "We were hoping he would be disqualified for longer, but we are glad the matter has come to a close as it has been going on for over 12 months. Hopefully now we can move on."

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