Family’s anger at taxi driver who left grandmother to ‘die alone in the dark’

66-year-old jailed for causing death of Carolyn

The family of a Douglas woman who was left to die in the street - by the taxi driver she’d called to take her home safely - say no sentence will ever justify his actions.

73-year-old Carolyn Buchan was killed outside her house, on Marathon Avenue, in March.

Yesterday the man responsible for her death was jailed for three years.

You can find out more HERE.

Mrs Buchan’s body was found by a neighbour, lying in the road, just before 7.30am on 20 March.

A police investigation was started as officers worked to find out how the great-grandmother - described by her family as an ‘absolute angel’ - had died.

The officer responsible for leading that investigation was Detective Chief Inspector Mark Newey:

Investigations led police to 66-year-old David Evans, formally of Tynwald Street, a taxi driver of more than a decade.

He’d picked Carolyn up from her friend’s house in Onchan, just after 1am on 20 March, and drove her to Marathon Avenue.

Evans told police, who spoke to him in the days after her death, that he’d helped her out of the taxi and watched as she walked towards the house, before noting the fare and driving off.

He was lying.

DCI Newey told Manx Radio had he been telling the truth the outcome could have been very different:

Evans later admitted causing death by careless 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.

In court yesterday Evans’ advocate said the 66-year-old wished to apologise to Mrs Buchan's family saying: “If he could do something to make this situation right he would do so.”

“People make mistakes and they have to live with the consequences of the decisions they’ve made,” she added.

Evans’ mistakes – and those consequences – are what the family of Carolyn Buchan are living with now.

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

Her granddaughter said her grandmother was “the sweetest and kindest member of the family” adding: “She is missed so much and she still had so much to live for.”

Carolyn’s daughter – who read her statement to the court – said: “I’ve cried myself to sleep many times. My life has changed considerably and not for the better.

“I believe Mr Evans acted selfishly and was only thinking of himself,” she added.

The family has been supported throughout the last six months by family liaison officers from the Isle of Man Constabulary.

DCI Newey says the impact of their loss cannot be overstated:

Sending Evans to prison for three years, and disqualifying him from driving for 10 years, Deemster Graeme Cook told him his actions were ‘incomprehensible’ adding: “Any human being with any decency would have stopped their vehicle and seen to a lady who was dying.”