A female pedestrian was hit by a taxi in Rathbone St, and then allegedly abused by the driver.
A female pedestrian was hit by a taxi in Rathbone St, and then allegedly abused by the driver.
A pedestrian in Whangarei had a bad start to a family holiday when first she was knocked over by a taxi, then allegedly abused by the driver.
The woman was treated by ambulance staff for bruised and grazed legs after being bowled to the ground in Rathbone St about 2.15pmyesterday.
She told the Northern Advocate the taxi pulled out suddenly and was halfway through a U-turn before the driver seemed to see her in the middle of the road.
She said the car hit her at hip level, knocking her over. The most upsetting part was when the driver got out of the car and yelled at her and other people who rushed to help her, she said. Several witnesses to the incident also said the driver was abusive.
A spokesperson for the Whangarei taxi firm involved has been unavailable for comment.
The Auckland woman, her partner and three children were passing through Whangarei on their way to a holiday further north and had stopped for refreshments. Central Whangarei was busy at the time of the incident.
Several police teams were at the scene within minutes. The taxi driver was parked on the other side of the road as police interviewed him and several witnesses.
