BOLTON

A MUM-OF-THREE suffered a punctured lung and eight broken ribs after a devastating crash on Friday night.

Melissa Quigley was a passenger in a Peugeot E7 minibus taxi on St Peter’s Way in Bolton – travelling towards Manchester – at around 10.50pm when a car collided with it, near the Bradford Street bridge.

The other vehicle – which Metro Cars fleet manager Asad Khan was told by the driver that it was a silver Vauxhall – hit the taxi’s driver side rear door before striking the central reservation.

Mr Khan said the Vauxhall then veered into the minibus’ front tyre and wing, causing the taxi driver to lose control of the Peugeot before it came to a halt after hitting the ramp of a wall.

Major damage was caused to the taxi, including a smashed window.

The Vauxhall made off from the scene, police said, before emergency services arrived.

Melissa, from Tonge Moor, was taken to hospital, where she has been given morphine to help with the pain.

She was due to have an operation on her ribs yesterday, Monday.

The taxi driver suffered whiplash and arm injuries.

Melissa’s family launched an appeal for more information following the crash.

Her sister Victoria Parkinson, 30, said: “We were devastated when we heard about the crash and wanted to know what had happened.

“Melissa said she was flung over.

“For that to happen when you are in a taxi is scary.

“She is stable now but she suffered a punctured lung and eight broken ribs.

“It has been really shocking for us as a family.

“It’s difficult with it being so close to Christmas as well.

“It does not look like she is going to be out in time for Christmas which is upsetting for her children.”

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are investigating the incident, in which no arrests have been made.

A GMP spokesman said: “Police were called at around 10.50pm on Friday, December 18 to a report of a collision involving two vehicles.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/

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LIVERPOOL, 'Tier's for Souvenirs'

A total of 170 taxi drivers were stopped by officers in Merseyside this weekend as part of a joint operation from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council.

On Friday and Saturday, December 19, 27 taxi drivers were issued with enforcement action from Merseyside's Road Policing Unit, including defect notices or suspension of licences.

The operation was carried out to deter taxi drivers from travelling to the region from Tier 3 areas and to identify uninsured or defective vehicles.

This was done in partnership with Liverpool City Council and City of Wolverhampton Council Taxi Licensing, and saw 170 taxis inspected in total, in line with Covid-19 and road safety regulations.

Inspector Chris Barnes said: “The threat of Coronavirus is still very real here in Merseyside and we simply cannot let our guard down, or allow any behaviour or travel which heightens the risk of infection within our communities. That’s why officers were out this weekend taking action against taxis travelling in from Tier 3 and other areas.

“As a result of the work of our dedicated Roads Policing Unit, defective and unlicensed vehicles, which can cause huge risks for companies, drivers and their customers were taken off the road this weekend.