'I SURVIVED TAXI DEATH CRASH' Tragic driver was 61-year-old grandad.

Byline: By ANDREW HIRST Deputy News Editor

A YOUNG man has told of the terrible moment he realised a taxi driver had died in a horror crash.

Rugby l eague fan Tom Wigglesworth and his friend, Luke Mathie, were passengers in the taxi driven by 61-year-old grandfather Tarlochan Singh Deo.

The taxi hit a crumpled road sign which had been badly damaged and bent into the road after it had been hit by another car on Wakefield Road, Lepton, just minutes earlier.

In the freak accident at 4am on Sunday, Mr Deo's silver Skoda Octavia was flipped over by the pole and rolled over.

NeitherMr Deo nor Tom - the back seat passenger - were wearing seatbelts, but Luke was wearing his. Father-of-four Mr Deo was partially flung from the car and was trapped underneath.

Tom was thrown around inside the car, but believes the front seats stopped him from being thrown out too.

He and Luke survived almost unscathed.

Tom, 23, of Flockton, said: "I could hear Luke calling for me after the car stopped rolling. I went to see the driver and felt his pulse, but there was nothing there. I think hemay have been killed instantly." He said the journey had been uneventful.

Tom and Luke had been to Old Trafford to see Leeds Rhinos triumph in the Super League trophy against St Helens at Old Trafford on Saturday and had then gone out into Huddersfield town centre to celebrate with a few beers.

They got the taxi near St George's Square and set off.

Tom was texting in the back while Luke andMrDeo chatted.

"He was driving really well," said Tom. "I was texting so my head was down and recall the driver pulling out a bit to avoid a car that had crashed near the Subaru garage, and then there was a bang and we rolled over.

Then I recall Luke shouting for me. I think he thought I'd been thrown out of the car."

The first police officers to arrive believe there could have been a faint pulse and, helped by passersby, gaveMr Deo cardiopulmonary resuscitation for several minutes in a desperate bid to save him.

When paramedics arrived they confirmed that Mr Deo had died.

Tom, a steel erector with Wakefield power station and boiler specialists TEI Ltd, said: "All I had was a cut hand. I realise I've been very lucky." Luke, 25, is an Australian who lives in Cheltenham. He and Tom got to know one another while playing the sport Polocrosse, a team sport that is a combination of polo and lacrosse.

Mr Deo, of Maple Grove, Fixby, had worked for Streamline Taxis based on Railway Street in Huddersfield town centre for many years.

He was married with three daughters and a son and was also a grandfather.

He worked at a textile mill in Dewsbury and then for Huddersfield taxi companies Ik Onkar and GT Taxis before joining Streamline several years ago.

A spokeswoman fo r Streamline said: "We are all very shocked and saddened by what happened. He was a well-respected colleague, a good worker and verymuch a family man.Our thoughts are with his family." An inquest into Mr Deo's death was due to open at Bradford Coroners' Court t oday.

CAPTION(S):

SHOCK: Tom Wigglesworth was a passenger in the taxi; LUCKY TO BE ALIVE: Tom Wigglesworth, of Flockton, survived the crash