Taxi Driver Online

Falkirk Herald

September 21, 2006

HEADLINE: Cops hunt danger cabbie

Motorcyclist escapes death during brush with rogue driver

MOTORBIKER Adam Nelson cheated death by sliding his bike on to the road to avoid being side-swiped by a rogue driver but careered into the path of a juggernaut coming the opposite way.

Miraculously, the huge artic stopped in time - but the 47-year-old was left with a broken toe, inches of skin torn off his right leg and damage to his arm, elbow and collar-bone. His pride and joy Suzuki 550 Classic Tourer was written off.

This week, the dad-of-three admitted: "I'm happy to put up with the pain because I could easily have been killed. I had a split second to decide what to do when the car veered into my path. I knew had to get out of the way fast."

Police are hunting the man behind the wheel of the light blue or green four-door saloon involved in the incident at the 'Fantasy Island' roundabout on Grangemouth Road around midday on September 11.

They suspect the car might have been a taxi.

Mr Nelson, who works with Syngenta in Grangemouth, was heading from his home in Rumford to shop at the B&Q warehouse.

He said: "We were just back from holiday and I had a few jobs to do around the house before going back to work.

"I was riding in the middle lane towards the roundabout to go straight through. The car was in the left lane to turn into Falkirk Road, but he didn't and I had to pull over to avoid him.

"I thought, 'what's this lad doing' and gave him a couple of toots on the horn and he pulled left onto the verge for a second as I tried to pass.

"Then he suddenly turned back on to the road. I knew there was traffic behind me so breaking hard was not an option. I steered the bike right and went down to avoid contact. When I saw the lorry coming towards me I just hoped for the best.

"One of the last things I saw was a hackney licence plate on the bumper. I hit the ground thinking, 'if he drives a taxi for a living he doesn't deserve to'. I saw the look on his face as I went down."

After treatment at Stirling Royal he was allowed home, but knows his crash helmet and leather jacket helped him survive. Mr Nelson, who has been riding motorbikes since he was 12, said: "I hit the road doing about 40 miles an hour."

A spokesman for Central Scotland Police said: "We have interviewed witnesses and started inquiries to trace the driver of the vehicle which apparently had taxi plates."

Anyone with information should contact the police on 01786 456000.

stuart.barber@falkirkherald.co.uk
..........................................................