Taxi driver on collision course

A DRAMATIC video showing a taxi that lost control and ploughed into a service station damaging at least one car has been posted on social media. The incident happened at a Shell garage in Phoenix, north of Durban, on Tuesday.

In the video, which seemingly came from a security camera mounted at the service station, the taxi is seen veering off its lane on the Phoenix highway and heading for the service station.

It narrowly misses a collision with a truck but crashes into a structure in the garage.

The collision lifts the taxi and it lands on top of a Toyota Tazz, crushing it.

The taxi somehow lands on its wheels and heads straight for the garage store, but is brought under control before reaching the shop. The driver desperately climbs out while the taxi is still moving.

The driver had the presence of mind to stand outside the taxi and bring the vehicle to a halt before clutching his head and rushing towards the lawn in front of the garage.

The taxi wasn’t transporting passengers at the time and, miraculously, no one was seriously injured. Staff at the garage, one of them armed with a fire extinguisher, rushed towards the taxi. An official who answered the phone at the garage, and didn’t give his name, directed questions to the Shell head office. Their phone was not answered late yesterday afternoon.

Police spokesman Thulani Zwane said they were probing a case of reckless and negligent driving.