A routine yellow cab ride on the Lower East Side turned violent on Saturday evening, March 14, when a medallion taxi jumped the curb, barreled onto the sidewalk, and hit two women. One victim suffered multiple leg fractures, the other a broken back and a concussion. Neighbors and passersby rushed in, helping the women until emergency crews arrived and took them to the hospital.
By Tuesday, the city was already moving. The Taxi & Limousine Commission suspended the cabbie’s TLC license while it works with law enforcement and reviews what happened.
According to the New York Post, the driver has been identified as Mahamuda Akter, who was approved for a TLC license in October. The outlet reports that the TLC pulled the license after coordinating with the NYPD, and that New York State DMV records showed no prior driving infractions linked to Akter. The suspension means Akter is sidelined from operating any TLC-licensed vehicle while the commission finishes its review.
A rider who gave only the name “Tom” told the New York Post that Akter had driven “erratically” on an earlier trip and later refused to pay a $30 fare. Tom said he had paid $20 on that first ride and shared photos showing the cab’s medallion and license plate, which matched the taxi involved in the crash. Those images, along with eyewitness accounts, were passed to reporters while NYPD officers canvassed the neighborhood for more witnesses. One victim has been identified in reporting as Millicent Faber; the other has not been publicly named.
TLC rules allow summary suspension after a serious crash
Under city regulations, the TLC can move quickly to sideline a driver after a serious crash while it decides whether that person should keep a license at all. Drivers are entitled to a post-suspension hearing to contest the action. 35 RCNY § 80‑14 and related rules spell out the agency’s power to suspend, revoke, and review licenses in cases involving serious injury. That kind of administrative suspension does not determine criminal guilt, which is left to prosecutors and the courts.
What happens next
For now, the NYPD investigation and the TLC’s separate administrative review are both still in progress, and officials have not said whether any criminal charges will be brought. The TLC’s press office is listed on the city’s website for media inquiries as the agency continues to examine the crash, and reporters can find contact details on the city’s press contacts page.
