March 29, 2008

Cabbie killed in crash with stolen truck

A Duffy’s Taxi cab driver was killed in an horrific crash with a stolen pick-up truck at the corner of Portage Avenue and Maryland Street early this morning.

Police said a passenger in the cab survived the collision and is in stable condition in hospital.

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Early this morning the scene of the car crash. (Shaun Mcleod / Winnipeg Free Press )
But several occupants of a Chevy Avalanche reported stolen were badly injured in the crash. One occupant of the vehicle was ejected from the Avalanche and is in critical condition. Three others were transported to hospital in serious condition.

The collision occurred around 3:30 a.m.

Police spokesman Sgt. Kelly Dennison said officers were not in pursuit of the Avalanche prior to the crash.

Dennison said investigators believe the stolen black truck was heading westbound on Portage when it collided with the taxi cab heading southbound on Maryland. The crash occurred at the intersection and forced both vehicles several metres west on Portage and across the centre median.

The vehicles came to rest on the sidewalk on the south side of Portage.

Shell gas station attendant Andrew Go witnessed the collision and ran to the scene.

"…we had an Avalanche going about 120 (kilometres an hour) going through the intersection. It tried to run a red light. It hit the car," he said.

"The Avalanche ran right over the cab and did a front flip. They both barrel-rolled. It almost ran into Japanese Cuisine (restaurant) there."

Go said he immediately called 911. Then, a car driving past the collision scene hit one of the occupants of the Avalanche who had been ejected, he said.

“A gentleman got out and got ran over,” said Go.

He said the couple in the car that hit him stopped and got out of their small car.

“They looked panicked and ran off.”

It’s believed that vehicle was also stolen as well.

City police have confirmed the driver of the stolen truck was hit by another car. The vehicle that struck the male is described as a dark red or maroon-coloured four-door sedan, similar in make to an older-model Dodge Neon. The vehicle also struck the median, and there may be visible damage on the vehicle.

Go went to the man lying on the road and covered him with his jacket.

"He was cold and shaking."

The veteran gas station attendant said he was reeling from his very first night at the Maryland and Portage location.

"It was just amazing."

Police traffic collision analysts are still at the scene and the eastbound lands of Portage Avenue will remain closed until approximately 2 p.m.

This morning, a Duffy’s dispatcher who didn’t want his name said staff were taking calls and keeping a lid on their shock and sadness after losing one of their colleagues.

They had just seen the photo of the crumpled green Grand Marquis cab on the Free Press web site.

"If it was one of the little cars, there’d be nothing left," said a man.

"It’s crazy," said a fellow dispatcher.

Duffy’s wasn’t prepared to issue a formal statement late Saturday morning. An official at the Notre Dame Avenue office said the company still wasn’t sure whether the victim was the owner of the cab driving at the time of the crash or if it was one of his employees.

The investigation is continuing by the Winnipeg Police Service central traffic unit and the stolen auto unit. Police are requesting that the driver of the vehicle contact investigators in order to assist with the investigation. Anyone with information regarding this vehicle or the occupants is asked to contact police at 986-6271.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/story/4151022p-4740115c.html