Taxi driver left shaken as brick is thrown at car in Grimsby
A QUICK-THINKING female taxi driver averted a potential disaster after a brick was hurled at her car.
Anna Morgan, 30, was "shaken up" and "shocked" as she was forced to swerve onto the opposite side of Boulevard Avenue, in Grimsby, to miss the flying object.
-
Targeted: Anna Morgan from Revells taxi with the brick that was thrown over the railings at her taxi. She did not feel comfortable being fully identified.
The Revells taxi driver, who was working a late shift over the weekend, heard an "almighty bang" when the car's tyre burst after being struck by the falling brick.
Today, Humberside Police's casualty reduction officer Barry Gardner said that the "prank could have resulted in someone losing their life."
Spend £80 or more on Dermalogica & Receive a FREE Brighten up Gift box worth £25.00
Contact: 01507 211711
Valid until: Saturday, August 31 2013
He said: "The act of throwing the object is complete idiocy and there could have been several repercussions from it.
"The consequences could have been severe, and if the brick injured the driver, she could have lost control and crashed.
"Cyclists, pedestrians or even passengers could have been injured as a result of this ridiculous action of offenders. They should stop and think of what their actions could lead to."
Anna, of David Street, in Grimsby, has been a taxi driver for nearly three years.
"All I was thinking afterwards was 'what if'," she said.
"What if it had landed on my windscreen? What if I had a passenger in my car? And what if I collided into another car on the wrong side of the road?
"I'm lucky that I managed to avoid the potentially disastrous incident."
It occurred just beyond the bridge in Boulevard Avenue at 11.40pm on Saturday.
The brick is believed to be a blue engineering brick and to have come from nearby Boulevard Walk gardens.
Anna continued: "It took a minute to register what had just happened and I managed to slowly drive my car to Macaulay Street in a parking bay to replace my tyre.
"I informed fellow taxi drivers and they luckily came to comfort me and I managed to change the tyre in 20 minutes.
"Not only will the car, which I rent from the company, need a new tyre but I think it will also need its tracking fixed.
"I'm going to keep taxi driving and I'm not going to let this put me off. The reason why I love this job so much is because you have a bit of freedom, and the majority of customers are nice."
Anna thanked the six taxi drivers who came to her aid. Some stopped when they saw her at the scene, and others helped her while changing the tyre.
The incident follows a similar one in May, when four youths threw a tyre from Pasture Street bridge near a tanker. A 16-year-old was given a warning.
Humberside Police are currently carrying out inquiries into the incident, and officers are appealing for anyone to come forward who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the Boulevard Avenue area at the time.
Information to police on 101, quoting log number six of September 30.
Comments
by dave_41
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 10:36AM
“untill the scum is in jail this will go on, no good doing something after some one is injured or killed.”
by Dexxx
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 9:02AM
“Why was my original comment pulled ? was it the GET or the "custodians of law and order"”
by 19051978
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 8:39AM
“Come down and see the little lovely's hanging about on the side of the subway, throwing stones at the Toyota dealership even when its open. Most days there's at least 10 of them milling about. I thing we should launch a few bricks at them, just to see if they could dodge them. Another half hearted attempt by the Police at controlling unrully kids.”
by Jensen125
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 1:20AM
“Build SUPERMAX PRISONS for the worst of the worst and move them into them so as to free up the normal prisons for delinquents like these! I really cant understand the youth of today but if my kids did that and i found out I would leather the little gits!.. I never did anything like this in my youth apart from play football at the park with friends and ride mountain bikes everywhere and camping!!! am sorry but THERE IS things to do! these kids need to open their god damn minds and stop smoking pot/drinking and thinking the public and property is their playground to do as they please...errrr no!! prison/community service for you my young ens!!!”
by MatQuinn
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 8:58PM
“Just so you know Mr Policemen and Policewomen of GY, if any of these "pranks" make their way to my motor, you'll find your suspect in a hospital ward or morgue!
This ain't a "prank", this is a dangerous act that could end up with you investigating a manslaughter or worse. Open your eyes, take off the rose-tinted police-issue Raybans and start PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY!
It's only a matter of time before we start protecting ourselves if you can't!”
by elliot
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 8:39PM
“I think, if you read the article the police officer was quoting the word 'prank.' This is a serious offence and the children/people responsible may have seen their actions as a 'prank' the officer is was using the word to highlight the seriousness of the incient.”
by gysamurai
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 8:37PM
“That brick looks like it could kill you if it hit you...that brick was thrown intentionally...that brick was used as a weapon....that is attempted murder/manslaughter...is that what it needs to turn this PRANK into what it really is...sick of paying my taxes and getting nothing in return. Build SUPER prisons so they know we've got plenty of space to accomodate these creeps..and get Judges from the real World....then I would gladly pay my taxes!”
by Good_Citizen
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 6:03PM
“casred: As Humberside Police's casualty reduction officer, you should be appologizing for the use of the term "prank", rather than criticising my comment.”
by ImmArthur
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 4:56PM
“It's bad enough when the GT Staff refer to those idiots who needed 'rescuing' by the lifeboat as pranksters, but when the Feds use the word 'prank' for this crime, it rings alarm bells for me,as it indicates the low level of severity they assign to this act.
Arthur, Immingham”
by Leveret2
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 4:22PM
“Yes, student511, to think it's so close to the Police ...
But, if "Pranks don't count" (and we have it from the Police that this was a prank) ...
So, I ask again, 'Does every little Prank count ?'”