...A relatively quiet day in Melbourne!
http://www.news.com.au/national/taxi-driver-stabbed-dead-in-mount-waverley/story-fndo4cq1-1226439954955
Taxi driver stabbed dead in Mount Waverley in Melbourne's eastern suburbs
Jon Kaila, Michelle Ainsworth
Herald Sun
August 01, 2012 9:08AM
A TAXI driver has been stabbed to death in Melbourne's east.
The driver was fatally attacked on Waverley Road near Jennifer Court in
Mount Waverley just before 3am today.
Witnesses told police the victim's taxi was then stolen and sped away from
the scene.
Get LIVE updates from our reporter at the scene
Minutes later the driver was killed when the car slammed into a power pole
about 4km away at the intersection of Waverley and Gallaghers roads, about
25km east of Melbourne's CBD.
Police say the crash sparked a fire that incinerated the driver, who has not
been identified.
It appears the car may have mounted the edge of a roundabout and smashing
into a guard rail and hitting the pole, which was almost snapped in half.
Debris from the car including a tyre, engine parts and hubcaps was strewn
across the footpath.
Detective Senior Sergeant David Snare said police were not looking for
anyone else over the stabbing.
Taxi driver murder
A Taxi Driver has appeared to have been Murder and then the man stole the
taxi and has then hit a pole in Glen Waverley and haas died in the accident.
Picture: Andrew Tauber Source: HWT Image Library
Cabbie stabbing
The stolen taxi smashed into a pole, killing the driver. Picture: Andrew
Tauber Source: Herald Sun
The stolen car slammed into a power pole, killing the driver. Pictures:
Andrew Tauber
"The taxi driver has upper body injuries and is middle aged," he said.
"It's a tragic set of circumstances. It seems to be a taxi driver going
about his lawful business and for what ever reason, there's been some sort
of confrontation and he's now deceased."
Crime scenes have been set up at both locations, with Homicide Squad
detectives and the Major Collision Investigation Unit investigating.
It is not known if the taxi was called to the address where the stabbing
happened.
A 13CABS spokesman said the victim had been a taxi driver for 30 years.
"Which makes it even more unfortunate," he said.
The man's family are yet to be notified.
Police have warned motorists to expect traffic delays, with Waverley Rd
restricted to one lane city-bound between Blackburn Rd and Stephensons Rd.
They have also asked drivers to avoid Gallaghers Rd and Viewmount Rd.
Taxi driver Murray McRae, who said he did not know the driver, told the
Herald Sun he no longer drove after midnight due to safety concerns.
"I would like to think it's getting better but the job is still fraught with
danger," Mr McRae said.
"It could happen any time, it brings it home really."
Mr McRae, who has worked in the industry for 19 years, said the job had
become "scary".