A taxi driver said he is “lucky to be alive” after a drunken passenger grabbed the steering wheel sending his car crashing into a lamppost.
Andy Johnson picked the man up from Rhyl train station and said he became “loud and aggressive” during the journey to Prestatyn .
After the father-of-four of Rhyl told the passenger he couldn’t smoke inside the cab, the man gripped the steering wheel causing the Toyota Avensis to plough into a lamppost near Rhyl Golf Course on Coast Road.
The passenger then fled the scene.
Speaking to the Daily Post, Andy, who has been in the job for four years, said: “A man got into the passenger seat of my car at Rhyl train station last Thursday afternoon.
“He was drunk, loud and belligerent, but as a taxi driver, I’m quite used to that.
“He asked me to take him to the bank in Prestatyn, but as we began the journey, he asked if he could have a cigarette.
“I told him no but he tried lighting it anyway.
“When I told him smoking was not permitted in my car, he just grabbed the steering wheel and my car jumped the kerb before flying into a lamppost.
“He got out of the car hurling abuse and then did a runner.”
A fire engine that happened to be passing at the time stopped at the scene and made the vehicle safe.
Police and paramedics also attended.
Luckily, Andy was left with only bumps and bruises but rescue crews told him he was lucky to be alive.
He later attended A&E at Y sbyty Glan Clwyd for a check-up.
“I had turned my airbags off and was told by doctors and recovery crews that that could’ve saved my life,” Andy added.
“They said I would’ve sustained much more serious injuries had the air bag blown up in my face at the time of impact.
“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.”
Andy later discovered that the passenger’s rowdy behaviour had seen him kicked off the train by rail staff.
“It might be a good idea if there was a holding area at the train station to give drunk and aggressive people who are thrown off the train, time to sober up before they are allowed to leave,” he said.
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.
“They are all legends and I would like them to know I’m grateful that they were there for me when I was at my most vulnerable.”
A North Wales Police spokeswoman said: “The passenger made off and officers conducted searches in the area.
“It is believed the passenger had been sighted at Rhyl train station earlier.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident reference number U140611.
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