Cab driver accused of hit-run
A WELLINGTON man has laid a complaint with police after claiming a Green Cabs taxi driver crashed into his parked car and drove away.
James Palmer says the driver later made matters worse by giving him false insurance details when he tracked him down.
However, the taxi company insists the crash was an accident, and the driver was unaware it had happened.
Palmer, of Hataitai, said the incident happened outside his house this month, and was witnessed by a neighbour. ‘‘A lady who lives nearby came along and told me she’d seen a Green Cab taxi do a three-point turn outside my house, smashing into my car before driving away without stopping,’’ he said.
‘‘However, she was able to record the plate number, which she gave to me.’’
Palmer was eventually able to find the driver’s phone number and get his insurance details. But the details appeared to be false.
‘‘I called up the Green Cabs [manager], asking why the hell one of his drivers had pulled a hit-and-run on my car. After bumbling out some excuses how drivers are private contractors so the company wasn’t liable, he found who the driver was and gave me his number.
‘‘I called the driver and arranged for him to come and inspect the damage. He took a few pictures and, completely unapologetic, said he would send me his insurance details later.’’
The driver eventually texted the details but, when Palmer took them to the driver’s insurer, it told him it ‘‘had no policy with that car whatsoever’’.
He contacted Wellington fleet manager Richard Collin, and was told the driver did not own the car he was driving, and Collin would ‘‘try and contact the owner’’ to get the correct details.
Two weeks after the incident, Palmer said his car was still to be repaired.
Police have confirmed Palmer laid a complaint, alleging a taxi driver failed to stop after hitting his parked car.
They also confirmed the complainant further alleged false insurance details were given, and that the correct details had not yet been provided by the taxi company’s head office.
Green Cabs managing director Callum Brown said the driver had explained he did not realise he had nudged Palmer’s car.
‘‘He was doing a multi-point turn and didn’t realise he had hit the car and had inadvertently driven off,’’ Brown said.
Green Cabs would check the film footage from the taxi’s camera and check the driver’s claims, he said. ‘‘I could understand his claim, because the damage doesn’t look too bad.’’
The company was checking into the allegations the driver provided false insurance details. ‘‘It could have been old details or some other misunderstanding.’’
If it was found the driver had been involved in a hit-and-run and then provided false information, he would not be welcome at the company, Brown said.
‘‘There is no place for drivers who bring Green Cabs into disrepute.’’