Taxi driver ‘did not brake’

AN eye-witness to an accident in which an 80-year old former teacher was hit on a pedestrian crossing by an Oldham taxi-driver told a court he knew she was going to be knocked down.

Sprightly Clarice De-Looze, who was on her way to deliver a birthday card, got no more than two yards towards a refuge island in the centre of the two-lane carriageway on Guide Lane, Audenshaw, when she was struck by the black cab driven by 43-year old Mohammed Rehman, of Eric Street.

She was rushed to hospital with multiple injuries and died hours later.

Lee Ashton, who was standing outside the near-by Sun Inn pub, and saw the accident on the evening of May 21 last year, told a jury at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court: “I just knew there was going to be an accident. I knew she was going to be hit.”

Mr Ashton, who telephoned emergency services after seeing the impact, said that she was hurled into the air after being hit by the taxi.

He told the court: “The taxi didn’t swerve or brake at all. She didn’t even make it halfway across.”

The Crown’s case is that Rehman had not seen her on the road, despite it being a fine sunny evening, with clear visibility.

Nichola Gatto prosecuting, said it could have been down to a momentary lack of concentration, or the fact that his visibility was impaired by mementos hanging from his rear-view mirror.

Nicholas Avery, a police accident-reconstruction expert, said there was no evidence Rehman had tried to brake, or avoid a collision.

He told the court that from measurements he had made, had the driver reacted immediately on seeing the pensioner in front of him on the road, he should have been able to stop within a shorter distance than he had done.

The case continues.