A bus driver who drove off with a taxi driver clinging to its doors in a fit of road rage has avoided jail.
Daniel Smith, 35, got into an argument with George Meek, 67, after crashing into him in Glasgow’s Hillington on 13th November 2022.
Mr Meek, who repeatedly asked Smith for his details, desperately held on to the bar at the open doors as the bus moved off.
The taxi driver fell to the ground, suffering a string of injuries including broken bones.
McGill’s driver Smith was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He was also convicted of assault and pleaded guilty to failing to appear at a court hearing last year.
Sheriff Collette Gallagher ordered Smith to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and placed him under supervision for 24 months.
Smith, of Paisley, was also fined £300 and disqualified from driving for 30 months.
The sheriff told him: “This was a serious matter and weighing up all of the factors, the custodial threshold has been met, however, an appropriate alternative is available.”
The court heard from Mr Meek, a taxi driver of 34 years, who said he was on his way home before the incident happened.
Mr Meek, who was in the outside lane, claimed Smith pulled out in front of him from the inside lane.
He said: “I slammed on the brakes and pulled as far as I could to the outside lane.
“The bus hit the driver’s side of my taxi and there was a loud bang.
“I thought that serious damage had been done to my taxi at that point.”
Prosecutor Tammy Gibson asked the witness how he felt and Mr Meek replied: “I was just in shock.”
Mr Meek said the bus continued to drive, so he sounded his horn while driving alongside the single-decker.
He claimed Smith “kept looking away” from him.
Smith then pulled over at a bus stop and Mr Meek got out of his taxi and approached him to get his registration and insurance details.
Mr Meek claimed Smith told him he did not realise he had collided with the taxi and apologised.
It was then stated Smith denied hitting Mr Meek’s vehicle before the two men ended up on the bus.
Mr Meek claimed Smith told him he was not getting his insurance details and to get off the bus.
He added: “He then got out of the driver’s side and punched or slapped my phone out of my hand then it hit the ground.
“He told me to get off the bus and I said I wasn’t until I got your details.”
Smith then drove the bus with Mr Meek still holding on at the open entrance doors.
He said: “My recollection was the bus was hitting the brake.
“I turned around and held on to the bar on the bus and I fell off.
“My legs have not been the same, I can’t sleep, I have nightmares and my arm was killing me. I felt at that point my life was over.”
Mr Meek said he “crawled” home and phoned police to report the incident.
He was then taken to hospital where he was found to have suffered a broken elbow, broken toes, as well as wounds to his nose and hands.
CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the court. Both men could be heard shouting at each other before the incident.
Mark Dunbar, defending, put it to Mr Meek that he was shouting and screaming at his client.
He replied: “At him, I accept that I said what I probably shouldn’t have said.”
Mr Dunbar told the sentencing hearing that his client has lost his job and is currently unemployed.
The lawyer added: “A degree of remorse has been shown. He has to accept he is the author of his own misfortune. The incident was a serious one.”