Father’s fury as son mown down by taxi
Reporter: by BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 29 September 2009
A FATHER has spoken of his outrage after a taxi driver ran his son down for not paying a fare.
Vincent Wood (42), of Richmond Avenue, Chadderton, said his son was lucky to be alive after being mown down in the early hours of Saturday morning in the ginnel between Coalshaw Green Road and Coalshaw Green Park.
Verl Wood (16) was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital suffering three broken ribs, a punctured lung, a severed right ear, concussion, cuts and abrasions.
He remains in a serious but stable condition.
Mr Wood said: “He was left for dead. The driver tried to murder him as far as we are concerned.
“We’re counting our blessings that Verl is alive.
It is only because the neighbours heard the commotion that they came out and put him in the recovery position — he was choking on his own blood.”
Mr Wood said his son had left to go to a friend’s house on Friday night but ended up in Oldham town centre.
In the early hours of Saturday, Verl and a friend got into a taxi near Mecca Bingo in King Street.
The friend told the driver they only had £4 and to take them to Coalshaw Green Road where he would get the rest.
Mr Wood said: “My son doesn’t remember anything about the night but his friend said when they arrived in Chadderton at about 5am, the driver got angry.
“They both got out of the taxi and my son got out of the cab for fear of his own safety. There is no way my son would have agreed to jump a taxi.
“I think this guy has put pedal to the metal and gone down the back alleys and knocked Verl over. We are absolutely devastated, and the family is outraged and disgusted.” Mr Wood said he understands the plight that taxi drivers face but it did not excuse what happened to his son.
He said: “They owed him a couple of pounds, there is no way he should have gone at him with the car.
“We are happy with the police’s co-operation and I would to thank the medical staff who arrived at the scene.”
A police spokesman said officers were called to Coalshaw Green Road following reports of a fail-to-stop collision.
Officers secured a number of roads including Coalshaw Green Road, Arden Street, Butler Green and the junction between Kingston Avenue and Lancaster Street until 10am while they investigated.
A man has been arrested and remains in custody for questioning and inquiries are continuing.
