Taxi driver recognised by Essex Police for her bravery and courage
She was left with life-changing injuries after trying to stop a dangerous driver.
A taxi driver from Essex has been recognised by local police for her bravery and courage after an attempt to stop a dangerous driver left her with life-changing injuries.
Lynda Wilson's been awarded the Chief Constables Commendation for courage and bravery.
Lynda was working as a taxi driver in Basildon when she saw a vehicle stopped in the middle of the dual carriageway at 3.15am.
The driver was slumped over the wheel.
When Lynda approached the car she realised the driver and female passenger were both clearly intoxicated, she bravely reached into the car and removed the keys.
The man behind the wheel became aggressive and brutally attacked Lynda, leaving her unconscious.
Lynda said her attacker “went mad and used my head as a football”.
She added: “I can remember him saying, ‘Give me my car keys.’ I said, ‘No. If I give you the car keys, you’ll kill someone.’ He said, ‘If you don’t give me the keys, I’m going to kill you.’
“He said he’d give me to the count of three. I remember him saying ‘One’. The next thing I knew I was on the floor.
“I was left in the middle of the road, I couldn’t move. I was trying to get to the curb. He got back in his car and he was laughing and revving the engine. I thought he was going to run me over, but he didn’t, and he took off.”
Lynda's hip was broken during the attack in December 2018, and she had to have a full replacement.
She also still has a scar on her head where her attacker stomped on her.
But despite her ordeal, the information she gave to police led to an arrest within just two hours.
The man was later then given a substantial prison sentence.
Lynda says she has no regrets: “People who drive after drinking or taking drugs aren’t the always the ones that end up getting hurt, it’s other people.
"My kids would say I’m foolish, but you don’t think about that at the time.
"Looking back, I’d do it again.”
Lynda was awarded her commendation by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington at a ceremony at Essex Police headquarters.
Mr Harrington said: “Lynda’s bravery was incredible and led directly to the arrest of a dangerous individual. She put herself in harm’s way and sustained serious injuries in attempting to protect the lives of others.
“As Robert Peel said, the police are the public and the public are the police, and Lynda thoroughly deserves this recognition for her public-spirited actions. Her family and friends should be extremely proud of her.”