A 70-year-old employee of a vehicle rental company has taken legal action following a violent altercation with a taxi driver on the island of Paros, sparked by a dispute over a parking space in Naousa.
The incident took place at a taxi stand in front of dozens of tourists. Tensions between the two men quickly escalated, with the taxi driver attacking the 70-year-old and grabbing him by the neck. The older man responded by striking him with his helmet.
Speaking about the incident, the 70-year-old also described a subsequent meeting with the taxi driver.
“He came and apologized with his tail between his legs. I told him, ‘No, I can’t forgive you. Before I can even think about it, you need to come out and tell the truth, apologize to all of Paros and to the foreigners who were around here watching the fight.’ He embarrassed Paros, not me,” he said.
How the Altercation Began
The dispute appears to have started over the parking of an ATV in the area used by taxis in Naousa.
The two men became involved in a heated argument that soon turned physical. The incident unfolded in a busy tourist area, with dozens of visitors to the island witnessing the confrontation.
Footage of the altercation quickly circulated online, prompting reactions within the local community.
The 70-year-old maintains that taxis only use the area to pick up and drop off passengers and do not remain parked there permanently.
“There are 20 taxis that stop here and nobody says anything. He was the only one complaining. Pickups and drop-offs. That’s all we do. We don’t park here. He packed up and left because there’s no way he’ll find work here again,” he said.
‘Firing Him Was the Only Option’
The taxi driver’s employer also condemned the incident and decided to terminate their working relationship after the case received widespread publicity.
“I fired him because the incident received a great deal of publicity. I received everything from threatening phone calls to anonymous and signed threatening messages. As a business, we are against violence and we condemn it. Firing him was the only option,” he said.
The taxi driver, for his part, says he regrets his actions, but maintains that the 70-year-old provoked him and attacked first following a heated argument.
A criminal case has been filed against the taxi driver on charges of dangerous bodily harm, and the matter will now proceed through the courts.
