Taxi runs over teen

A TEENAGER was injured when he slipped and fell beneath the wheel of a cab as he allegedly ran away to avoid paying his fare.

Police said the 15-year-old boy had asked to be taken to Connemara Course, Kelso, early yesterday. On arrival at the address about 2.15am, the boy ran from the cab without paying.

Police said the male taxi driver attempted to chase the boy in his car, but the boy slipped and fell beneath the front of the vehicle.

It is understood the taxi driver used a jack to help free the boy and waited with him until emergency services arrived. Paramedics took the boy to hospital with a laceration to his head.

It was feared he may have had pelvic injuries but police yesterday said he only required stitching for the cut.

Yesterday the Forensic Crash Unit was still investigating the incident and neither the taxi driver nor the boy had been charged.

Queensland United Hire Drivers' Association spokesman and Townsville driver Andrew Brennan said cabbies should resist chasing fare evaders.

"Fare evasion is an issue, but we've got to be very mindful that even fare evaders have rights, it's not advisable to chase an evader by foot or by car," he said.

"You can get quite agitated, but you've got to think very carefully about the consequences of your actions."

Mr Brennan said the former state government had promised to consider introducing up-front fare payments as part of the Taxi Strategic Plan for 2010-2015 to crack down on fare evaders and driver assaults.

Last year, then-transport minister Annastacia Palaszczuk was reviewing Victorian laws to require passengers to pay up-front between 10pm and 5am, but no changes were made.

Mr Brennan hoped the new State Government would support up-front payment.

"Unfortunately, police can issue all the tickets in the world, but ultimately the only way around it is to establish payment up-front after a certain time of day," he said