Torched car focuses search for missing cabbie on Dartmouth field

Searchers combed a wooded area of Dartmouth on Wednesday for any sign of a taxi driver who disappeared after picking up a passenger last weekend.

Sergei Kostin, 40, hasn't been seen or heard from since Saturday.

Police believe the cabbie, a driver for Bob's Taxi for about 10 years, picked up his last fare on Gaston Road in Dartmouth around 3:30 p.m.

A burned-out car matching the description of the Kostin's green Chevrolet Impala was found Tuesday in North Preston.

That evidence led police, ground crews, and search dogs to the woods and athletic field at the top of Mount Edward Road in Dartmouth's Woodlawn neighbourhood.

"We believe that we do have his car," said Const. Jeff Carr, spokesman for Halifax Regional Police. "It's of concern and certainly [raises] suspicions."

The search area is about 15 kilometres from where investigators found the wreckage.

Carr said the search was triggered by a report that the car was spotted in the area shortly after Kostin picked up his last fare.

The search wrapped up late Wednesday afternoon. Police aren't saying whether they found any clues.

Fellow drivers and managers at Bob's Taxi declined to comment about Kostin while police investigate his disappearance. But they describe the cabbie as a hard-working, reliable man.

Carr said the major crime unit is involved in the investigation.

"This is very unlike him, very odd for him to go missing without telling anyone," said Carr. "Obviously, we are very concerned about that."

Kostin has no family in the Halifax area, but he has a wife and other relatives in his native Ukraine.