Taxi driver facing death crash case

5:46pm Wednesday 6th February 2008

A TAXI driver is to be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention after the death of a 20-year-old student.

Vikki Spear died in March last year after a night out with friends in Manchester.

She was knocked down whilst crossing the road at a pelican crossing after a night out.

The group, partly affected by alcohol, hadn't activated the button on the pelican crossing before deciding to cross the road, the coroner said at her inquest.

Yesterday Greater Manchester Police said that nobody had been arrested or charged as a result of the incident.

But it has now been revealed that taxi driver Raja Ahmed, 48, of Salford, is set to appear at Manchester City Magistrates Court for driving without due care and attention.

Ahmed has been summonsed - a legal procedure which differs from being charged - to answer an allegation of driving without due care and attention.

The maximum sentenced is a fine of up to £5,000 and nine penalty points on a licence.

Vikki, of Grimshaw Street, Great Harwood, was in the second year of a psychology degree at Manchester University.

The former pupil at St Augustine's RC High School, Billington, and St Mary's College, Blackburn, had been out with three friends at the time of the accident, last March.

They had attended a concert in the city before going to a takeaway near her flat in Fallowfield.

She was half way across the road when she was hit by a private hire taxi.

The inquest heard that she died three days later from massive head and brain injuries.

In evidence, the driver said he was travelling at 25mph and hadn't seen Vicki until after his car hit her.

They had all been drinking and Manchester's deputy coroner Leonard Gorodkin said it was clear that the group were all in "high spirits" before Vikki was struck, at around 4am.

Recording a verdict of accidental death Mr Gorodkin said that what had happened was an "absolute tragedy".

No date has yet been set for Ahmed's court appearance but it is expected to take place in April or May.

"The case had been delayed until after the inquest has been completed.