By Dominic Abassi

‘He was on his phone:’ Nanaimo cab driver accused of hitting woman in crosswalk

Dec 28, 2017 | 3:21 PM

NANAIMO — A Nanaimo cab driver is accused of hitting a woman in a crosswalk while looking at his phone.

Nanaimo RCMP confirmed the woman was hit while crossing Departure Bay Rd. at Montrose Ave. around 10 p.m. on Dec. 26. Police said the driver was given two charges under the Motor Vehicle Act: driving without due care and attention and use of an electronic device while driving.

The woman was taken to hospital but RCMP did not know details about her injuries.

Chantel Jones was in the front seat of the cab at the time. She said the driver glanced at his phone while they were waiting at the red light on Montrose.

“As we went through our green light and the two people started to walk across the crosswalk…our cab driver looks down at his cell phone and we hit them,” Jones told NanaimoNewsNOW, adding the driver was allegedly looking at his phone before and after impact.

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She said the pedestrians, a husband and wife, had the right-of-way, were dressed appropriately and carrying flashlights. Jones said the roads were clear and it wasn’t snowing or raining at the time.

“I completely would blame it on the fact he was on his phone.”

Jones said the impact sent the woman, believed to be in her 60s, onto the hood of the cab. The woman had a bloody nose and mouth but didn’t report any pain to Jones, who is certified for emergency first aid and stayed with the pedestrian. The other passenger in the cab, Jones’ friend Katie Wright, called 911 and talked emergency dispatchers through the incident.

Jones said the cab belonged to Yellow Cab Nanaimo. She and Wright haven’t decided if they will follow up with a formal complaint. 

Jones believed cab drivers should be held to a higher standard for driving safely.

“When you get into a cab to go anywhere, you are calling for a safe driver. You expect when you get in there the cab driver is doing his job to make sure you get there safe and not putting anyone’s life in danger.”

NanaimoNewsNOW reached out to Yellow Cab Nanaimo for comment. They have yet to respond.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi