Baby 'thrown' into cab by taxi driver
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/4175487.Baby__thrown__into_cab_by_taxi_driver/
A MUM was left reeling after her newborn baby was ‘thrown’ into a taxi by a cab driver.
Samantha Saunders, 24, was horrified after the Value Cars driver hurriedly shoved her baby’s carrycot into the boot of his cab. He had failed to realise the two-week-old tot was strapped inside.
The baby was unharmed, but the annoyed mum has called for all taxi drivers to be more attentive.
However, Value Car owner Mia Walker said it was a genuine mistake and the taxi driver concerned was left ‘mortified’ by the incident.
Samantha was being picked up by the driver outside her home in Czarina Rise, Laindon, when the incident occurred.
She said: “I was on my way to the dentist and had my son Bailey with me in his seat.
“I handed the driver the frame of my pushchair, but he suddenly grabbed the cot seat from me as well and threw it in the boot.
“I was just gobsmacked. I screamed ‘my baby is in there!’.
“Luckily, the seat landed the right way up or I dread to think what could have happened.”
Dental assistant Saman-tha, who is married to husband Lee, 21, spoke out after she said she received a ‘half-hearted’ apology from Basildon-based Value Cars.
However, Mrs Walker, retorted: “We have sent a heartfelt letter of apology to the lady and we are all very sorry by what happened.
“The driver in question told me straight afterwards and was absolutely mortified.
“He said he was just trying to get the mum in the car as quickly as possible because it was pouring with rain.
“He certainly didn’t realise there was a baby in the car seat.
“He will of course learn from this and will be more vigilant in future, but it was a genuine mistake.”
Samantha added: “Taxi drivers should be more careful with their passengers.”