‘Terrifying escalation’: Taxi attack sparks driver safety concerns

Taxi drivers are traumatised after they thought they were shot at when a high velocity projectile smashed through their windows in Cairns.

The smashed back window of a Cairns Taxi targeted on Sheridan St on Tuesday night, August 27. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Daily rock attacks on vehicles operated by Cairns Taxis escalated to a concerning new level on Wednesday when a high velocity projectile smashed through the windows of two mini-vans, leaving elderly drivers terrified.

Police investigators were busy combing through the broken glass scattered through the two vehicles after the cabs were targeted on Sheridan St near the Shell service station at about 5.15am.

Stones being thrown at taxis and Kinetic buses has become so common that often incidents go unreported.

The situation has now become so dire that drivers have been ordered to avoid using a section of Sheridan St between Dunwoody's Hotel and the Cairns State High School at night.

Cairns Taxis chief executive Bob Epps stands in front of a vehicle that was the target of a suspected shooting incident on Sheridan St in an escalation of usual rock throwing attacks on cabs. Picture: Peter Carruthers

On top of the financial outlay to repair vehicles, the human cost has fed-up drivers quitting the profession for fear of serious injury.

Cairns Taxis chief executive Bob Epps said the two taxis had dropped passengers at the airport and were returning to the city for early morning fares when drivers heard a loud bang followed by the sound of glass exploding in the rear of the vans.

“They were driving parallel, and projectiles hit the first vehicle, the projectile went through both windows and then penetrated the window of the second vehicle,” he said.

Senior Constable Korinne Lardner from the Cairns Police scenes of crime forensic team investigates damage to two vehicles parked at the Cairns Taxis base in Portsmith. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“It’s extremely serious, both and both drivers believe they were shot at because of the sound.

“The drivers are terrified, they are both experienced elderly drivers and they are very shaken.”

Mr Epps said for the last three weeks “every taxi” that drives the Cairns North section of Sheridan St has been pelted with rocks.

“But last night was an escalation of events,” he said.

“They’ve resorted to other means, as opposed to rocking, because they’re obviously not that accurate with their rocks, but they were more accurate last night.

“From what police said, whatever they’ve fired has come at an angle down, so it’s from a building and not from the street and that’s why we think it’s an escalation of the level of violence that’s normally directed towards us.

Broken glass was scattered across the floor and seats of the taxi. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“They think it’s funny to rock the taxis, and they do it quite a lot but this is a (new) level of seriousness if you start firing a catapult or a gun.”

While the drivers believe smashed windows were caused by gunfire police have yet to reveal the outcome of the forensic investigation.

In an unrelated incident, three teens were charged with throwing rocks at a public bus travelling down Mulgrave Rd on Monday and a meeting of transport stakeholders was held by Kinetic on Tuesday to address driver safety concerns.

Senior constable Korinne Lardner looks for clues on the floor of a Cairns Taxi vehicle. Picture: Peter Carruthers

It is estimated for each day a Cairns Taxi minibus is off the road it costs the company between $800 and $1200 in lost income while the repair bill is expected to total $1200 for each window.

“We’re just so lucky that neither the driver was hurt,” Mr Epps said.

Police are investigating the reports of wilful damage on Sheridan Street.

Investigations are continuing and anyone with information or relevant vision is urged to contact police.

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Originally published as ‘Terrifying escalation’: Taxi attack sparks driver safety concerns