‘Cash Cab’ mock taxi kills 61-year-old Vancouver pedestrian

Last Friday night, a 61-year-old man from Surrey, B.C. was killed when a replica taxi used in the Canadian version of the TV game show “Cash Cab” struck him in Vancouver.

According to Andrew Burnstein, president of Castlewood Productions Inc., which produces the Canadian version of the show, the accident happened as a producer was driving the mock cab back to the storage facility after a day of filming.

The Vancouver police, who would not release the name the victim, said the man died in the hospital shortly after being hit.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his friends and his family,” said Burnstein. “My heart also goes out to the driver of the vehicle, a member of our technical staff, who is shaken and devastated by this tragic accident, as is our entire team.”

The police have refused to release the name of the person driving the cab at the time of the accident. There were no witnesses of the incident, which happened in the city’s downtown eastside area, a Vancouver police spokesman said.

According to a report by the Vancouver Sun, the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and the taxi is now being held by investigators.

No charges have been filed, but the incident remains under investigation.

According to Burnstein, the driver, as well as the rest of the production team, is in full cooperation with Vancouver police.

“Cash Cab” is a trivia game show that takes place in a mock yellow cab that drives around the city. Unsuspecting people who flag down the fake taxi become instant contestants should they choose to accept.

As they are driven to their destination, they answer trivia questions that are worth anywhere from $25 to $100. Contestants have the option at the end of their ride to either bet “double or nothing” on one final question or walk away with their winnings. If at any point during the ride contestants answer three questions incorrectly, their ride ends and they must exit the cab.

The U.S. version of the game show, hosted by comedian Ben Bailey, has been broadcast on the Discovery Channel since 2005 and takes place in both New York City and Chicago.

Discovery Channel Canada began broadcasting the Canadian version in 2008, with the first two seasons taking place in Toronto before moving to Vancouver.  Comedian and licensed taxi driver Adam Growe is the host of the show.

photo courtesy of Ad Meskens via Wikimedia Commons