Anger as taxi driver gets £200 fine after death of tot
7:10am Saturday 12th July 2008
A TAXI driver who knocked down a toddler who later died has walked away from court with six penalty points on his licence and a £200 fine.
The family of Cameron Simpson responded with fury following the sentencing of Stewart McKay at Worcester Magistrates Court.
Magistrates could have disqualified him from driving and fined him up to £5,000.
Three-year-old Cameron was killed a week before Christmas after getting out of a taxi just metres from his Droitwich home. Yesterday McKay admitted driving without due care and attention.
Magistrates were told the accident happened on Tuesday, December 18, in Meadow Road, Droitwich, as Cameron returned from a trip to Worcester with his mum Kerry, 18-month-old sister Cassidy and some friends. The group had got into McKay’s Blue Door minibus taxi at Droitwich train station to go home to Meadow Walk.
After getting out of the taxi, Cameron and his mother walked in front of it. Just before he reached the pavement McKay pulled away, knocking him to the ground. Cameron died later at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Mark Soper, prosecuting, said before pulling away McKay pushed a button on a dashboard messaging system to say he was clear of the job, looked in his mirrors and drove off “Unfortunately, Cameron was right in front of the car and he was killed,” said Mr Soper. “Miss Simpson walked in front because she wanted to be sure she could be seen. He (McKay) was looking the wrong way. He should have been looking forward.”
Julian Harris, defending, disputed this claim and said McKay was looking forward when he pulled away. He added: “Stewart McKay and his family have been through absolute hell since this accident. It does not compare to the suffering of the family of the victim. It is simply a catastrophic and horrendous lapse of concentration which has had dire consequences. Everybody has lost as a result of what happened that evening.”
Mr Harris said McKay, aged 21, of Archers Close, Droitwich, was a hard worker who if disqualified from driving would lose his job, to which he had returned two months after the accident.
Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Simpson, said: “It is disgusting, there is no justice. I think disqualification is the least they could have done. If I steal something from Boots they will put me in prison. I will never forgive him.”
Blue Door taxis declined to comment. McKay was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.