Rhyl,North Wales - Arrest after Rhyl taxi crashed when passenger grabbed wheel

Andy Johnson's taxi - a Toyota Avensis - was sent crashing into a lamppost on Rhyl Coast Road

A man has been arrested in connection with a crash caused when a passenger grabbed the steering wheel of a taxi.

• 23 SEP 2016
• BY KELLY WILLIAMS

A man has been released on bail after a cab careered into a metal fence on Coast Road

Andy Johnson’s cab was sent careering onto the pavement before ploughing into a metal fence on Coast Road, Rhyl , last week.

The father-of-four said he was "lucky to be alive" after the collision, which happened during the school run and "could easily have killed a family" had they been walking down the road at the time.

Police today arrested a man in connection with the incident and he has now been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Mr Johnson said he picked a passenger up from Rhyl train station last Thursday and described his behaviour as "loud and aggressive" during the journey to Prestatyn.

The crashed near the golf club on Rhyl Coast Road

When he told him he couldn’t smoke inside the taxi, the front-seat passenger, allegedly gripped the steering wheel, causing the Toyota Avensis to plough into a fence near Rhyl Golf Club.

The passenger then fled the scene.

A fire engine that happened to be passing at the time, stopped to help Mr Johnson

Police and paramedics also attended but luckily he was only left with bumps and bruises.

Mr Johnson said: “It was only 3.20pm in the afternoon, there could easily have been children and families walking down the road at that time or cyclists, not to mention the workers who are building new flood defences at the golf course. People could’ve been killed.

“Obviously, I haven’t been able to work since the accident as my car is still being repaired, the whole front end is a mess.

“As an independent taxi driver, this has also caused me to lose work and I still feel a bit wobbly and achy.”

But he gave credit to those who were there for him at his time of need.

“I would just like to say thanks to the workmen at Rhyl Golf Club who were brilliant, they looked after me and made me comfortable while waiting for the emergency services.”

see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/arrest-after-rhyl-taxi-crashed-11929519