A Calgary mother thought a scheduled taxi would come to her rescue after suffering a fall in the front foyer of her northeast home, but the actions of the cab driver left her alone and bleeding on the floor for hours.
On the afternoon of December 23, 2013, Jane Weis called Associated Taxi to arrange a ride to a holiday hair appointment. Prior to the cab’s arrival, Jane slipped and smashed her head against the floor.
When the taxi driver arrived at the entrance of the Weis home, he heard the cries of the injured woman and stepped inside the unlocked door.
“I asked him if he could help me, he said he couldn’t,” said Jane. “He said he would phone the police but of course no police came.”
According to the Weis family, the driver left the home but an emergency call was never placed. Jane remained on the floor of the home, bleeding and in shock for nearly six hours. The driver failed to close the door after his departure and Jane was exposed to the elements outside, where the temperature was nearly minus 20 degrees Celsius.
One of Jane’s daughters attempted to call her mother. When the phone calls went unanswered, a call was made to Jane’s husband Ron and he left work to check on his wife. Jane had managed to crawl away from the cold foyer.
“I found her in her bedroom,” said Ron. “She had closed the door with her foot and she was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed, and couldn’t move.”
The gash on Jane’s head required stitches and she now wears a medical alert button in case she suffers another fall.
Jane’s son Stephen is appalled that his mother’s cry for help was ignored by the cab driver.
"I just couldn’t understand how this could happen,” said Stephen. “I definitely don’t want this to happen to anyone else’s loved one or mom."
Stephen says the incident ruined the family’s holidays and he wants an apology from the cab company.
Jeff Garland, manager of Associated Cabs, says the company’s policy prohibits drivers from entering the homes of customers, but the organization would never punish a driver for helping someone in medical distress. Garland refers to the events of December 23 as a 'regrettable incident'.
“We at Associated are truly sorry for this lack of compassion and common sense shown by one of the drivers affiliated with our company,” said Garland in an email to CTV. “Unfortunately, Associated cannot control the common sense required for individuals to make adequate decision on what they should and shouldn't do. And we find it inconceivable that anyone, regardless of it being a taxi driver, would come upon another human being in medical distress and not do whatever it takes to ensure that this person receives medical assistance.
Associated Cabs is investigating the incident.
With files from CTV's Brad Macleod
