Paul H. Williams, Contributor

"I'm at home relaxing with the family," Driver* said in an upbeat tone, when he spoke with The Gleaner recently, despite the miserable weather, and the fact that several days ago he could have made the transition to the other side.

This hard-working taxi driver has many mouths to feed, so he is always on the beat. He's fearless, so there is nowhere in Kingston and St Andrew, and beyond, that he will not go. Yet, he's not oblivious to particular hazards of his job.

Many of his colleagues and acquaintances have been robbed, maimed, killed, and have disappeared, along with their vehicles, without a trace.

Last week Monday morning, Driver could have been just another statistic, but as fate would have it, he wasn't.

Suspicious phone call

About 20 minutes past midnight, Driver was parked along Half-Way Tree Road waiting for signals from his dispatchers. There were other taxi operators around. A dark, well-built youth approached them asking if they were working. Driver said he was. The youth went up a lane, saying he was going to buy cigarettes. Driver said, in retrospect, that was when the youth made a phone call.

Upon his return, the youth told Driver he was going to Patrick City, so they headed towards Washington Boulevard. The youth, sitting in the front passenger seat, requested to have his seat pulled back. Driver found that strange. Along the way, the passenger got three phone calls, seemingly from a woman.

"Baby, I'm on the Boulevard coming down, just cool, nuh," "I'm coming baby, I'm coming baby, how yuh so miserable!" were some of things he was saying.

But Driver became suspicious. "I didn't like the vibes," he said. He put up his guard.

When they reached a certain spot on Patrick Drive, the passenger told him to turn around and let him off. Driver did as requested. The car came to a stop, but the passenger didn't budge. Driver asked him how come. Then the passenger reached over and grabbed the gear stick. Driver told him he suspected he intended to rob him and attempted to push his hand off the lever.

The passenger held firm. A struggle for the lever ensued. The passenger wanted it in park, but Driver was ready to speed away. Realising the passenger's firm grip on the lever, Driver elbowed him. The struggle intensified. Somehow, the passenger's head got under Driver's armpit. Now, having the upper hand, Driver pummelled his face, poking him in the eyes.

Driver then looked into the rear-view mirror, only to see a very slim young man approaching the car stealthily. There was a gun in his hand. Driver let go of the passenger, who still had the lever locked on park. The young gunman stood a few feet away from car initially, but as Driver exited he approached him.

Now, face to face with the gunman, Driver shouted, "No kill mi! No kill me!" The passenger was still affixed to his seat, perhaps smarting from his blows. Driver didn't panic, but realised he was in trouble. He pressed himself against the vehicle, sliding along its dirty side in a squatting position.

Car recovered

When he reached the back, he decided to run for his life. He made a big dash. A little distance away he stopped, just to see the gunman jumping into the car. It sped away onto Conway Road. Driver ran up the road to get help. He met a youngster. He told him what had happened and asked him to call his dispatchers, since he had left his phone in his car. The chap did. In a short while a taxi from his company turned up. He took Driver back to the spot where he nearly lost his life. They did a quick surveillance of the area and then went to report the matter.

Two days later, Driver got a call from the police to say the car was recovered intact four hours after the incident on Wright Crescent, Duhaney Park. It was great news, so he went through the required process and retrieved his vehicle.

When The Gleaner spoke with him he was still on the road eking out a living. He refused to be intimidated, but he said he had learned his lesson.

When quizzed about why he went with a perfect stranger at that time of the night, knowing fully well how dangerous it could be, he said he was trying to make some much-needed money. But now he realised money is not all. He has lived to tell his story, but many have not lived to tell theirs.

*Name changed.

Send feedback to editorial@gleanerjm.com