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HIS life ended in a moment of madness.
But for the family of Jamie Waite, the agony of his death will last forever.
And their pain has been made worse as they feel they have no justice for the 21-year-old, who died when, after a night out with family and friends, he is thought to have leapt from a taxi after an alleged row over a fare.
An inquest into his death brought no closure for parents Dave and Jean, and girlfriend Lindsey Orrick, and has instead left unanswered questions.
But one thing his mum and dad do know is they were proud to call Jamie their son and today paid tribute to their “baby”, who had grown up into a popular young man.
“The whole thing is just so out of character for him,” said dad Dave, 44, an engineer.
“We know our own son. He wasn’t just another drunk fare dodger. He was full of respect for people and would not try and avoid a taxi fare. He even had money in his pocket.
“There were hundreds of people like him who went out drinking that night, but they all got home safely. Why didn’t Jamie? If it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone. Taxi drivers should have a duty of care to passengers.”
Jean, 56, who also has a son Mark, 37, and daughters Hayley, 37, and Helen, 32, still smiles when she talks of her youngest son and remembers how he would shout out “love you, mam” across the office at Northern Rock, where they both worked.
“The only reason he would jump out is if he was frightened or threatened. Something else has happened that night and it is killing us not knowing what. We have got no justice for him.”
An inquest heard how he had gone out in Whitley Bay to celebrate the birth of his nephew on March 29. But he was separated from stepbrother Mark and friends, and ended up getting a taxi with two unknown males.
Taxi driver Anthony Purvis said they seemed an unlikely trio, describing Jamie as a “nice lad”.
When the pair asked to be dropped off and ran off without paying, Mr Purvis claimed Jamie refused to pay and set off to drive him to the police station. Seconds later, the door of the taxi slid back and Jamie, a former George Stephenson High School pupil who was hoping to join the police, jumped out.
Mr Purvis, said: “He said the two men had threatened him but I hadn’t heard any arguing.”
Jamie, who had moved from the family home in Killingworth, North Tyneside, to Hadrian Park, Wallsend, suffered serious head injuries and died 10 days later.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded at his inquest, but the two mystery passengers were never traced and may still hold clues to what happened.
The family also believe the sliding doors of the taxi should have been locked when it was moving, as in the case of other cabs.
Dave has now written to coroner David Mitford asking that he consider the issue and the safety of Fiat Doblos for use as taxis.
Dave said: “Nothing will bring Jamie back, but I would do anything to stop another family going through what we have.”
Oct 29 2008 by Liz Walker, Evening Chronicle
Source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/10/29/family-demands-answers-over-son-s-taxi-death-72703-22143059/
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with SC fully about Doblo’s!
I rent a MK1 Doblo, and most of my Customers grab the handle and press the Red button at the same time that LOCKS the Door!, they don’t realise that their is a trigger under the Handle, so I find most Customers find themselves stuck inside, I have to say “its a Gun trigger” to them and to leave the Red Button alone, so they catch on how to use it!
I find one in ten know how to open the doors properly!
Regards
Stephen
“I also believe that a good Taxi Driver can handle almost any situation and can avoid any situation getting out of hand. I was’nt there on the night of Mr.Waite’s tragic accident so I couldn’t know how it panned out but I am sure the Driver would not have wanted things to turn out the way they did”
well said admin
Tbh I am currently renting a Doblo while my car is getting fixed. The rear doors are not easy accidentally open as the handles are not in arms reach while seated, most of the time I have to show passengers how to open them as the are not a standard type of release!
Condolences to the Family and friends of Mr. Jamie Waite from everyone at TooManyTaxis.com and all members of the Association of North Tyneside Hackney carriages. Personally I and many others have never been comfortable with the sliding door issue and also believe that if they are fitted some kind of locking mechanism should be implemented. 40 Licenced Fiat Doblos were issued over night by North Tyneside Council some years ago, The largest number of Licences issued in one go by this council ever. When previously vehicles of this kind had been refused mainly due to the other safety aspect of a rear loading wheelchair bay,with no escape route in the event of a rear end collision. I have always believed there were unanswered questions about this particular vehicles suitability as a Taxi. Regarding CCTV, Many Taxis across Britain now have CCTV, some fitted at the owner/drivers expense and others funded through local authority/passenger transport organisations. I do believe a lot of Taxi related situations could be avoided by the mere fact that CCTV was fitted and well advertised within and on the Cab. My own car has had CCTV warning stickers on the windows for the last two years and fingers crossed I have had no ‘Runners’or serious trouble since and that is only with a warning sticker. So I do believe it makes people think. I also believe that a good Taxi Driver can handle almost any situation and can avoid any situation getting out of hand. I was’nt there on the night of Mr.Waite’s tragic accident so I couldn’t know how it panned out but I am sure the Driver would not have wanted things to turn out the way they did.
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in the NEXUS meetings one of the things talked about is CCTV in cars but i think NEXUS are become scared when they are asked to help in subsidising it for the number of drivers that would need it ! and in my view it would have to be all or nothing as a lot of of clientele may use a firm that does not have it for what ever reason, but if they had not choice as every car was fitted with it they would have no choice and the drivers would have a element of protect
what i don’t like about the above article is how all of a sudden they are shifting the responsibility onto the driver and or the failing of the fait doblo !! the driver has to drive the car safely and beware of other dangers on the road he is travelling and have “a duty of care” to the passenger in the back. well we do but we can not control their actions while maneuvering a car around the rounds. it fine to proportion the blame on the vehicle after such a tragedy, but it was the person actions of opening the door and his attempt to get out that should not have happened. why is it always turned on us after a tragedy as we could have done something about it !!
Just to express my condolences to the family of Jamie Waite.
As far as I know,never having driven a Doblo,the vehicle itself is no more unsafe than any other vehicle,provided it is operated properly.
I have had 1 passenger fall out of my own cab,a Skoda salloon,due to her messing about with the door release when we were moving. She fell from the n/rear door in Cramlington,fortunately not suffering any major injury,unlike Mr Waite.
She was drunk when she fell out at about 20 mph on Northumbrian Way in Cram.
I would agree cctv,may have answered the many questions which arise after this sort of accident,and would in many cases protect both driver and passenger from much distress.
However,at present cost,and possible `red tape` i think it will be a while yet before we have them in all cabs.
Only thing I dont like about sliding doors,I would think the doors may well be prone to easier opening,whilst driving,than conventinal doors,as with normal doors you have the wind pressure against the door making it harder to open accidentally where if a sliding door,the same pressure would not nessesarily work in that way.
Its a tragic case, but I dont by just because he had money in his pocket he was going to pay, I dont think we’ll ever know that was going on in his head
This Tragic case could have some closure for the family if Taxis were fitted with CCTV. Then there would have been video of everything that happened inside the Cab,the two mystery males would have probably been identified and there would have been video of all the circumstances leading up to this poor lad leaping from the Cab.