Taxi company charged over deaths of wheelchair users

A taxi company has been charged over the deaths of two passengers whose wheelchairs tipped backwards during separate incidents in northern Victoria.

Echuca-Moama Taxi Group is facing four charges brought by WorkSafe of failing to ensure the passengers were not exposed to health and safety risks.

A 63-year-old woman died after her wheelchair fell backwards during a journey in Echuca on February 6, 2021.

A 75-year-old man suffered a fractured sternum on June 28 that year after his chair tipped backwards. He died from complications while being treated in hospital a week later.

The workplace health and safety regulator alleges the company failed to maintain a safe system of work or train its drivers how to use the wheelchair tie-down system in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

AAP

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