On Christmas Day, an incident took place in Manhattan's shopping district when a taxi swerved off the road and onto a crowded sidewalk. According to Gothamist, police reported the incident occurred around 4 p.m. near Herald Square, resulting in injuries to several pedestrians, including a 9-year-old boy, a 41-year-old woman, and a 49-year-old woman.
The severity of the injuries warranted immediate hospitalization, yet fortunately, the victims are currently in stable condition. The New York City Police Department indicated that the 58-year-old male driver of the cab might have suffered a medical episode before mounting the curb, as detailed in a report by CBS New York. Although the situation is serious, no charges have been filed as the investigation is ongoing.
Witness accounts have provided a detailed account of the events during the holiday festivities. Ryan Tucker, a bystander, told CBS New York about the shock of witnessing his wife get hit by the taxi. "We were coming up northbound right on the sidewalk, didn't really hear much. That's when my wife got hit, kind of up on her back shoulder. Sent her spinning, didn't knock her to the ground," Tucker recounted.
Following the initial shock, Good Samaritans quickly acted to aid the trapped boy and his mother, rocking the car to free them. Tucker continued his story detailing the scene, "He was trapped under the tire, and when we moved the car back, realized that what ended up being his mom was underneath the car. She was coherent and speaking to him, and keeping him calm," according to CBS New York. Additionally, Charlton D'Silva from Passengers United shared his sentiments, "My prayers to the victims," hoping for the recovery of all involved, including the cab driver.
Video footage from the scene shows the taxi stopped on the sidewalk, its front end damaged, as police investigate the aftermath. Three other women, who declined medical attention, were also reported to have sustained injuries in the incident.
