‘Deplorable’ actions from taxi driver who reversed over passenger and left her to die in road

66-year-old David Evans jailed for three years

A taxi driver who left a Douglas woman to die in the street, after reversing into her, has been told his actions were ‘deplorable’.

David Evans hit 73-year-old Carolyn Buchan just after 1am on 20 March – minutes after dropping her off at her home address on Marathon Avenue.

Despite seeing her lying in the road, injured, he drove off and continued his work for A1 taxis picking up several other fares during the early hours of the morning.

The court heard Mrs Buchan’s body was found by a neighbour just after 7am meaning she’d been lying in the street for around six hours.

At Douglas Courthouse today Evans, formally of Tynwald Street, was jailed for three years for causing her death by careless driving.

The court heard he’d lied to police in his initial statements telling officers he’d helped her out of his taxi and watched as she walked towards her house before noting down the fare and driving off.

In reality Evans had reversed into the great-grandmother, crushing her under his vehicle, before leaving her dying in the road and then fleeing the scene.

"No sentence will ever, in my opinion, justify his actions on the night in question." - daughter of Carolyn Buchan

Mrs Buchan, who was described in court as a ‘delightful lady’ suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries.

A pathologist confirmed she would have died quickly and rapid medical attention, if it had been sought, was unlikely to have been successful.

Evans only admitted what he’d done after being presented with the results of forensic examination from his Mercedes Vito which found blood, and hair, on the underside of the vehicle.

He told police he’d checked his mirrors before reversing but heard a bump and realised he’d hit something. “I just panicked. I had no idea she was seriously hurt,” the 66-year-old told officers.

Evans' later admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving and failing to stop at, and report, an accident.

He also admitted committing an act against public justice by giving police incorrect statements designed to mislead the investigation and cast suspicion on others.

"People make mistakes and then they have to live with the consequences of decisions they have made." - Deborah Myerscough (Evans' advocate) 

Victim impact statements were provided by Mrs Buchan’s family.

Her granddaughter described her death as a ‘horrific series of events’ adding she’d been left to die alone in the dark ‘so close to the safety of her own home’.

Mrs Buchan’s daughter read her statement in court, in front of Evans, telling the court: “No sentence will ever, in my opinion, justify his actions on the night in question.”

Evans’ advocate told the court her client, who had been a taxi driver for more than a decade, wished to apologise to the family adding: “If he could do something to make this situation right he would do so.”

Sending Evans to prison Deemster Graeme Cook described his behaviour as ‘incomprehensible’ telling him: “You were more interested in self-preservation.”

Questioning whether Evans’ remorse was for Mrs Buchan’s family, or for himself, Deemster Cook added: “Nobody should die that way. That was down to you.”