Horrendous Crash At Victoria Exit....By Thomas the Taxi

Just before midnight, in the early hours of Saturday morning, a driver posted a video on Twitter on a Taxi laying on its side in Victoria Street. As the morning drew on, other drivers posted that passengers were being cut out of the wreckage by fire crews and ambulances were seen hurrying away from the scene.
Around 3am I found myself in the Victoria area, so I went to have a look for myself.

When I arrived, the Y reg TX1 was still laying on its side and scene of crime officers (SOCO) were still taking photographs. At first the officers in attendance were not very helpful, but when I explained I was a Taxi driver and concerned about the welfare of the driver and passengers their mood changed.

click to enlarge

The officer in charge told me that they were not very happy with the driver as he had "Done a Runner".
I was shocked at first, but the more I think about it, the more it doesn't add up.
No London Taxi driver (IMO) would have it away for the scene of an accident of this magnitude. Two 70 year old American tourists had to be cut from the cab and rushed to hospital. They were said to be in a critical condition.

The Taxi had been hit broadside, as it travelled north past the Victoria Palace Theatre towards Grosvenor Gardens. A white Toyota Mini cab coming from the Station, struck the Taxi smack in the middle, turning it over on to its off side.

But why was a Toyota minicab coming out of the station at this exit?

If the Mini cab driver had obeyed the Law this accident would never have occurred.
There is no way a private hire vehicle can legally exit this section of Victoria Station. The signs are clear, only Licensed Taxis and Buses can use Terminus Place.

The attitude of Addison Lees owner Mr John Griffin who has encouraged his drivers to break the law and use bus lanes on the M4 and also Terminus Place is a contributory fact in this incident. Even though it was not one of his drivers directly, other mini cabs are attracted to use restricted roads when they see Addison Lee contravening traffic signs.

But this does not excuse the behaviour of the driver of the Taxi.

• Was this a yellow badge driver who panicked.
• Was the vehicle stolen

Taxis have, in the past, been stolen from garages where drivers leave keys up exhaust pipes, or under the drivers mats in unlocked vehicles. Some cabs have in the past, been taken by desperate drivers, worked and returned before the garage knew they were missing.

I suppose we will have to wait to see if this hits the press, to find out the full story.