LIVERPOOL

Private hire driver carrying family of four left with fractured spine after Audi smashes into his car

These shocking images show a taxi on its roof after a New Year's Day hit-and-run which left the driver with a fractured spine.

Police say it was lucky nobody died and are appealing for witnesses after the "fail to stop road traffic collision" which left the private hire taxi taking a family of four passengers to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on its roof.

Merseyside Police said just before 7am a black Audi A8 was seen driven "at high speed" along Edge Lane from Low Hill in Liverpool city centre.

It smashed into the back of a silver Mercedes E250 estate private hire taxi, just after the junction for McDonalds on Edge Lane.

As a result of the crash the Mercedes left the road and flipped over onto its roof, causing significant damage to the car.

 http://bit.ly/2hYUsWC
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 EDINBURGH

 Dramatic pictures reveal the moment rescuers fought to lift a taxi off a crushed woman after she was hit and trapped under the cab.

The victim was caught under the wheels in the centre of Edinburgh today, opposite the famous Waverley Steps next to the Balmoral Hotel.

It is understood the pedestrian was crossing Princes Street at around 12.20pm when she was struck by the vehicle.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dramatic-moment-rescuers-lift-taxi-9568747
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 Tributes have been paid to a "wonderful" 16-year-old boy who died after being hit by a taxi in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Morgan Ackerman died in hospital following the incident involving a white Skoda Octavia taxi on Barry Road in Barry at 22:30 GMT on Tuesday.
A statement from his family said Morgan, known as Morgie, was "loved by everybody who knew him".

An appeal for witnesses has been made by South Wales Police.

"He was always joking and always saw the best in every situation," said family members in a statement.

"It is not an understatement to say he was life and soul of wherever he was and he loved to make people smile. He would constantly tease his older sister Elle by winding her up, but then would always make her laugh afterwards.

"Morgie was such a caring young man, and to give an example, he recently treated the whole family for a breakfast on his wages from his part time job - that was the type of boy he was. He was so giving and thoughtful and we'd almost go as far as to say a 'mummy's boy'.

"He was so loved by all of his family and friends and he has left such a massive hole in everybody's heart. He is going to missed by everybody whose life he touched in his 16 years in this world."
A fundraising page for Morgan's family had raised more than £2,000 by Thursday evening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-38515718
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VALE OF GLAMORGAN (2)

 A disabled woman has said she felt "humiliated and angry" after a taxi driver conned her out of £43,000.

Dylis Jones was told by Christopher Owen that fare rises meant her monthly fee had to go up from £150 to £500.

Owen, 48, of Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in December.

Speaking after the case, Ms Jones said: "He'd even gone as far as telling me he loved me and cared for me, all the time robbing me blind. It was shameful."

Owen would also withdraw money from her account after being trusted with her cash card and chequebook.

The taxi driver admitted three charges of theft, 14 charges of fraud and one charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ms Jones, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, said: "Being severely disabled I needed lifts most days to get out - I began to trust Christopher like family.

"I lived in a flat with supported living and a warden but Christopher would take me shopping to Asda and when I went for hospital appointments he would even come in and see the doctors with me."

Owen's deception lasted for nine months before Ms Jones wanted to move house and was told by a rent officer she was in arrears.
She believed she had savings in her Nationwide account, but £43,281 had gone, leaving her with just £13.

She said: "All I could do was look in horror as she showed me dozens and dozens of withdrawals from my account - £500 a time, sometimes more.

"I've even had to rely on the local food bank for groceries and even a local emergency fund with the council for some cash. I feel humiliated and so stupid and I feel very, very angry."

Jailing Owen and imposing a restraining order on him preventing him from contacting Ms Jones, Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees said: "What you have done to her has caused her real hardship, not only in monetary terms, but also in her feeling of self-worth."

Ms Jones has since been reimbursed £31,000 by Nationwide Building Society.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-38517927

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