Private hire driver arrested on drink-driving suspicion after Merseyside minicab smashes into van

A private hire driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving following a collision involving a stationary van in Huyton, Merseyside Police confirmed.

The incident was reported shortly after 9.05pm on Wednesday 31 December 2025 on Fincham Road, where a red Toyota Corolla operating as a private hire vehicle was involved in a collision with a parked van. Police said the circumstances escalated after the initial impact.

According to officers, the owner of the van approached the driver of the private hire car in an attempt to remove the vehicle keys. The car was then reversed into the van owner, knocking him to the ground and causing a minor head injury.

Police units were deployed to the area and the vehicle was subsequently stopped on Mulgrave Street. The driver was detained at the scene and taken into custody.

Incident forms part of Merseyside Police’s Winter of Action enforcement campaign targeting road safety and town centre crime

A 41 year old man from Toxteth was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, careless driving and failing to stop after a collision. He has since been conditionally bailed while enquiries continue.

The incident comes during Merseyside Police’s Winter of Action campaign, which runs from 1 December to 31 January 2026. The operation focuses on road safety, alcohol and drug driving enforcement, and wider crime prevention in town centres during the festive and post festive period.

Merseyside Police has urged members of the public and industry stakeholders to report suspected drink or drug driving. Information can be provided via social media channels, online reporting tools, or by calling 101 and quoting Operation Gears.

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Roads Policing Chief Inspector Stuart McIver said: “When drivers get behind the wheel of a vehicle having drunk too much alcohol or taken drugs, they take a huge risk with the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists, as well as themselves.

“I want to take this opportunity to commend the actions of the van owner who recognised the suspect had potential to cause further harm and tried to stop him.

“We will continue to proactively patrol the roads across Merseyside to prevent any driver reckless enough to drive while impaired through drink or drugs from causing serious injury or worse.

“As part of our Winter of Action, throughout December we carried out a drink and drug driving campaign, Operation Limit, which saw hundreds of arrests after regular stop checks were conducted in hotspot areas, and breathalysers and drug wipes deployed across Merseyside. Our work to tackle this issue continues all year round and we will continue to conduct targeted roadside operations as well as patrolling the road network 265 days a year to keep people safe.”