Cabbie jailed for running over passenger

Updated July 19, 2011 13:25:42

A taxi driver from the New South Wales central coast has been jailed for driving over a passenger who did not pay his fare.

Kamal Aridah was jailed for nine months today after being found guilty of dangerous driving occasioning actual bodily harm last month.

In December 2009, Aridah had picked up five passengers at Springfield and stopped at Wyoming where there was a dispute over the $18 fare.

One of the passengers pushed the fare-reset button and there was an argument over the fare before the five jumped out and ran across the road.

Ronald Elder, one of the passengers, ran towards the cab and was run over. Aridah then reversed over him.

Mr Elder spent six days in intensive care with serious brain injuries.

In sentencing today, the judge said he took into account that Aridah panicked and feared for his safety when Mr Elder ran towards the car.

Topics: courts-and-trials, assault, wyoming-2250

First posted July 15, 2011 12:35:40

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-15/taxi-driver-jailed-hit-and-run/2796048

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