Taxi driver fined £75 after man's death

A TAXI driver has been fined £75 after hitting and fatally injuring a man who had been lying in the road.

Magistrates ordered that Iftkhar Chaudhry should also pay a £15 victim surcharge following the death of 43-year-old Peter Stappard.

A medic had been crossing the road to help Mr Stappard, who had been lying in the gutter in Canterbury Street, Blackburn, when he was struck by Chaudhry's private hire people carrier and dragged along the road.

Mr Stappard, who was living at a bail hostel in St Peter Street, Blackburn, suffered a fractured pelvis and ribs following the incident at 1am April 26 2008. He later died of his injuries at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Chaudhry, of Neath Close, Blackburn, was found guilty of driving without due care and attention after a trial at Blackburn Magistrates Court.

Police investigations confirmed that a nearside plastic wheel arch cover had been ripped off his taxi and there were also marks on the underside of the vehicle which confirmed there had been impact and an element of dragging.

Magistrates ordered him to pay a £75 fine, £265 costs and the £15 victim surchage. He was also given three penalty points on his license.

A police spokesperson said: “It is the responsibility of the police, if appropriate, to bring the evidence before a court.

"The police play no part in the sentence given by the court and no sentence could compensate Mr Stappard's family for their loss in tragic circumstances.”

Chaudhry, who works for RMA Private Hire, will also have his taxi licence reviewed by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Chris Allen, head of public protection at the council, said: "Taxi drivers are required to notify us of any convictions which may then be discussed by the licensing committee to see if action is required on our part. The driver in this case has notified us and we are considering our next steps."

Mr Stappard was not married and had no children.

He left behind a mother, father, two brothers and a sister who live across Cheshire, Bolton and Scotland.

http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/news/4157523.Taxi_driver_fined___75_after_man_s_death/

People who phoned for the ambulance, so surely someone could have either stood next to him or moved him a little to a safe area, and not leave him lying in middle of the road. Tragic death and so avoidible