A Berkeley taxi driver who hit his intoxicated passenger after he fled from the cab without paying has been given a fine, a good behaviour bond and a one-year ban from driving.
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The passenger, who insists he was running from the cab to organise cash to pay his fare, was hospitalised and needed surgery for his injuries, Wollongong Local Court heard yesterday.
The drama started when the man called for driver Anas Hadaya to stop his taxi in Russell Street, Albion Park, on September 4 last year.
The meter was ticking at between $50 and $70 when the passenger jumped out about 12.45am.
Hadaya, who worked for Wollongong Radio Cabs, said the passenger then fled through the Terry Street intersection before he ran out in front of his cab where they "collided".
At the same time, the passenger was on the phone to his partner, who was "attempting to organise funds for the taxi" before she heard "the screeching of tyres and the sound of the phone scraping across the road".
The woman rushed outside as Hadaya called triple-0, the court was told.
Other motorists and nearby residents stopped to help until ambulance crews arrived.
Hadaya, a University of Wollongong employee who drives taxis by night to supplement his income, went to Lake Illawarra police station to report the crash.
The next day, the victim, who admitted downing 15 schooners during the night out, told police he was "not attempting to avoid payment".
He had been trying to have his partner bring money to pay the driver.
The reason he "moved from the taxi", he said, was that he wanted to make sure his girlfriend knew where he was.
Taxi driver hits running passenger with cab
Yesterday Hadaya, a father-of-two, found a sympathetic ear in Magistrate Doug Dick when he pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
‘‘Anybody can understand how frustrating it is for a taxi driver when a passenger does a runner,’’ Mr Dick said.
Drivers had to ‘‘balance the loss of fare and a loss of licence’’.
Jane Healey, representing Hadaya, said he was a man of good character, who had a degree in computer science and was undertaking research at the university.
‘‘This is a very regrettable incident; unfortunately the victim has told police he ingested 15 schooners in a relatively short space of time...his blood alcohol was well into the high range when tested in the hospital,’’ Ms Healey said.
‘‘I’m certainly not making that submission to say that he is responsible for what has occurred. But courts are only too well aware intoxicated pedestrians at night can cause a hazard to drivers.’’
Magistrate Dick took into account Hadaya’s early plea but said ‘‘you need to pay something out of your pocket for what happened’’.
Hadaya was fined $800 plus $83 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.