Mum injured as missile hits taxi in Blackburn

12:32pm Thursday 5th June 2008

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By Jon Livesey »

A MOTHER who suffered head injuries when her taxi was struck by a missile in broad daylight has spoken of her terrifying ordeal.

Gail Henderson, 45, of Infirmary Road, Blackburn, was a passenger in the mini-cab, travelling along Hereford Road around 4pm on Tuesday, when an object struck the front passenger window, causing glass to shatter in her face.

Mrs Henderson, who works night shifts as a cleaner at Royal Blackburn Hospital, was on her way to collect her son from Intack Primary School.

She initially believed the taxi had been shot at with an air rifle and was left in a state of shock, with several cuts above her left eye.

Police believe the injuries were probably caused by a stone thrown at the cab.

She said: "The bang was really loud. You could hear it right down the street.

"I felt shaken, sick, was crying and then I realised I was bleeding quite badly.

"I had to take the night off work, so I've lost out on an evening's pay and my team were short staffed, so it isn't fair on them."

Taxi driver Shakeel Ahmed, 32, who works for Intack Taxis, Mill Lane, Blackburn, had to replace the broken window and have the car valeted.

He added: "I was really shocked. I couldn't sleep at all on the night it happened."

Mrs Henderson, who was treated by a paramedic at the scene, says she saw a teenager nearby and was eager to speak to police immediately.

But despite contacting them several times, she was only interviewed on Wednesday evening. She said: "I'm not very happy with the police.

"If the car window had been down I'd be in hospital now, at the very least."

Police said they believed the attack was the latest in a series of stone-throwing incidents involving youths.

Inspector Debbie Carter, of Blackburn Police, said: "Although Mrs Henderson thought an air weapon had been used, there is no evidence to support that.

"A number of taxis and buses have been stoned in the area and we are working with the bus company to tackle the problem.

"We were told by the ambulance that Mrs Henderson had no injuries so, at that time, she was the witness, and not the aggrieved."