‘I can’t ever accept the hard reality of losing you’: wife’s tribute to taxi driver killed in Harrogate crash

The family of a man killed in a crash near Harrogate in the early hours of Sunday morning has paid tribute to him.

Masum Miah, 45, died at the scene of the collision, which occurred at 1.20am on the A61 Harrogate Road at Dunkeswick, near Harewood Bridge.

It involved a grey BMW 3 Series and a black Peugeot Partner taxi driven by Mr Miah, from Shipley.

His wife Ambia said:

“With a heavy, broken heart I will have to say Allah Hafiz (goodbye) to you. I can’t ever accept the hard reality of losing you in this tragic, sudden crash.

“I can’t promise you I’ll be okay, but I promise I will bring our kids up the way we planned together. You’ll always be missed because of the way you were humble, funny, loving, caring, and most of all a wonderful husband and father.

“‘For sure it is god who created us and to him we shall return. You have gone, but will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace and our next meeting will be in Jannah. In Sha Allah.”

The scene of the fatal collision.

Dashcam appeal

North Yorkshire Police is continuing to appeal to anyone who may have seen the collision or who may have dashcam footage to come forward.

You can call 101, select option 2 and ask for Steve Hawkins or him at Steve.Hawkins@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Quote reference number 12230111568.

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Taxi driver killed in crash near Harewood Bridge

A man died in a crash near Harewood Bridge that led to the closure of the A61 for more than 12 hours yesterday.

Police said today the man, who has not been named, was a taxi driver in his 40s.

He died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at about 1.20am yesterday morning on the A61 Harrogate Road at Dunkeswick. The road reopened at 3.20pm.

North Yorkshire Police is now appealing for witnesses to the collision, which involved a grey BMW and a black Peugeot taxi.

It said in a statement today:

“Sadly, the driver of the taxi, a man in his 40s died at the scene. His family have been informed and are receiving support form specially trained officers.

“The driver of the BMW, a man in his 20s remains in hospital.

“The stretch of road was closed until 3.20pm on Sunday afternoon to allow officers to investigate the scene.

Anyone who saw the collision or has dashcam footage is urged to dial 101, select option 2 and ask for Steve Hawkins.

Alternatively, you can email DC 55 Steve Hawkins on Steve.Hawkins@northyorkshire.police.uk

Quote reference number 12230111568 when passing information.

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Anger management order for Knaresborough man who assaulted taxi driver

A former member of the armed services has been handed a community order for assaulting a taxi driver near Knaresborough.

Cameron Michael Dumsday, of Hawthorn Avenue in the town, pleaded guilty to common assault at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard he had taken a taxi from outside McDonald’s in Harrogate, along with another man, on Thursday, March 23.

During the journey to Knaresborough, the other passenger began to challenge the way the taxi was being driven, alleging the driver was speeding and cutting across junctions.

When the driver pulled over into a lay-by, the court heard Dumsday, 26, was trying to calm the situation down, but the other passenger called the police.

Dumsday then lost his temper and began making threats towards the driver, who had locked himself in the car. Prosecuting, Alison Whiteley said:

“He was telling the police that if they didn’t get there very soon, he would assault the taxi driver. He said, ‘I’ve been done for assault before and I don’t mind being done again’.”

The driver then decided to try to run away, and the defendant chased him across a busy road three times before police arrived.

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Defending, Andrew Tinning said Dumsday had drunk six or seven pints in Harrogate, but it had been an untroubled evening until they became concerned about the way the taxi was being driven on the way home.

Dumsday acknowledged he should not have lost his temper in the way he did, said Mr Tinning, adding:

“Fortunately, he doesn’t touch [the taxi driver]. He is here for assault on the basis the taxi driver feared he was going to use violence against him.”

The court heard Dumsday, who had served four years in the army and now worked as a lorry driver, had “a short fuse” and could lose his temper when he felt he needed to defend those around him. He had two previous convictions for assaulting police officers in 2018, for which he received fines.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with the requirement to undertake 20 days on a programme to help him manage his emotions.

He was fined £710 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £114, costs of £85, and compensation of £6.80 for the taxi fare and £100 for the distress caused to the taxi driver.

Working on Christmas Day: Harrogate taxi driver

Not all heroes wear capes, and while most of us are tucking into our turkey spare a thought for those who are still working on Christmas Day.

Kevin O’Boyle, the owner of Central Taxis in Harrogate, says he has worked every Christmas Day except three in the last 56 years.

Mr O’Boyle may therefore appear more likely to wear a Grinch outfit than a Santa hat on the big day, but he certainly has that special Christmas spirit inside.

He is semi-retired but always steps up to the plate when needed. And he is rarely more needed than on Christmas Day.

Central Taxis has a contract with Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust as well as Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

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So when public transport stops on Christmas Day, NHS staff turn to taxis to get them to work. Mr O’Boyle told the Stray Ferret:

“There are quite a number of NHS staff who rely on public transport so when that stops they turn to us for help.

“Not only do we take NHS staff to work but we also do other vital work. Like last Christmas, I was picking up drugs for the hospital from Manchester.”

He may have regrets about missing Christmas with his four children but Mr O’Boyle feels a sense of duty to the NHS so he is willing to make the sacrifice.

So when you are celebrating tomorrow spare a thought for those in the Harrogate district who are working.

Ripon taxi driver ‘dumbfounded’ by lack of mask-wearing in cabs

A taxi driver from Ripon has pleaded with customers to wear facemasks and protect drivers from covid as too many passengers are ignoring the rules.

Richard Fieldman, who has been a cabbie in Ripon for 28 years, said the last 12 months had been “absolutely horrendous” for the trade.

After not working since New Year’s Eve, the owner of A1 Cars recently began taking passengers again.

However, he told the Stray Ferret he’s been disappointed by the number of people who either don’t get in his taxi with a mask, or don’t wear one properly.

Taxi passengers must wear face coverings unless they have an exemption.

Mr Fieldman said:

“You ask them to put their masks on when they get in the taxi, but they pull it down as soon as the car sets off.”

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Mr Fieldman said he was “dumbfounded” by customers claiming they forgot their masks, adding that he believed many people didn’t think being in a taxi posed the same risk as being in a shop.

He estimated that seven out of 10 passengers wore masks, and the large minority that didn’t included many older people. He said:

“They’re just as bad. You can’t blame it on young people flouting the rules.”

He added:

“I had two lads get in with masks last week. The next minute I look in the mirror they’re chomping on sandwiches.

“People think with covid it’s game over, but it’s not.”