A young mother who died after falling from a moving taxi had been caught up in an argument over the cab fare, it was claimed yesterday.
A taxi driver was arrested yesterday in connection with the death of Katie Bennett, 22, who suffered severe head injuries after falling from the car near her home in Newchapel, north Staffordshire, early on Saturday, Staffordshire police said.
Bennett and six friends had returned to Newchapel at 2am after clubbing in Hanley town centre, Stoke-on-Trent. The other passengers got out of the people carrier when they arrived at her home but Bennett became involved in a dispute over the taxi fare, according to a family friend. A police spokesman confirmed that she was still inside the cab when it moved off.
It is unclear whether Bennett jumped from the moving vehicle or fell. She died from her injuries at the University hospital of North Staffordshire yesterday with her parents at her side.
Bennett, who worked for Tesco, had a two-year-old daughter, Mia.
The family friend, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "It's a real tragedy. She was a lovely girl who had her whole life in front of her and she is leaving a beautiful baby girl behind who I am sure will miss her mum very much.
"It is a shame she will not grow up with her mother around her. The whole family is in bits.
"I think there was an argument between the driver and the girls over the amount of money they were paying for the cab. It is an awful situation."
A group set up on Facebook paid tribute to a "beautiful niece" who will "be there forever in our hearts". A friend, Jonathan Williams, wrote: "i will miss u more then u will ever now no u will always be in my thoughts."
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