Two men were in hospital last night after the stolen taxi they were travelling in went out of control and overturned in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The incident began when a taxi driver picked up six young men in Inchicore village, Dublin, at around 1.40am on Saturday. As he drove the passengers towards Ballyfermot two of them became involved in an argument in the minibus taxi.
The driver stopped the vehicle and as he was ejecting the two men, the other four passengers drove off in the taxi. A short time later the vehicle went out of control and overturned at the junction of Cherry Orchard Avenue and Croftwood Crescent, Ballyfermot, at around 1.50am.
Gardaí are satisfied that there was no other vehicle involved in the collision. They have appealed to anybody who may have seen the accident or the taxi speeding in the area to contact them.
The two injured men were taken by ambulance to St James's Hospital. The remaining two passengers ran from the scene. One of the injured men remained in St James last night. His injuries are not life threatening.
The other man, who suffered head and arm injuries, was transferred to Beaumont hospital. A spokeswoman for the hospital said his condition was critical. All of the men involved are believed to be in their 20s.
The minibus taxi involved in the single vehicle collision was examined by gardaí over the weekend. The taxi driver has been interviewed about the circumstances leading up to the accident and gardaí will interview the injured men when they are well enough.
Anybody with information is asked to contact gardaí at Kilmainham on (01) 6669700 or Ballyfermot gardaí on (01) 6667200.
