The Taxi and Limousine Commission is moving to suspend the hack license of the cab driver involved in Tuesday's curb-jump crash in Midtown, which would keep him off the job for 30 days. Meanwhile, the Post reports that NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly says police are investigating the crash.
The cabbie was identified in the press as Faysal Kabir Mohammad Himon, 24, of Queens. On Tuesday morning Himon rammed a cyclist with his cab at Sixth Avenue and 49th Street, then drove on the sidewalk with the cyclist on the hood before striking tourist Sian Green, according to multiple accounts. FDNY said two victims were transported from the scene.
"The impact severed Green’s left foot and shattered her right leg," writes the Post. "Doctors had to amputate the left leg below the knee, but were able to save her right leg."
The Daily News and the Post reported that Himon has a history of reckless driving, with three moving violations in 2011, including citations for running a red light and doing 65 mph in a 45 mph zone, resulting in nine points on his license. The Post says in 2010 Himon was involved in another crash that resulted in injury.
"He’ll receive a summons and his due process rights will allow him the opportunity to have a hearing on it with an administrative law judge," a TLC spokesperson said. If the TLC action is successful, Himon would receive a 30-day "punitive suspension," the spokesperson said.
After a cab driver killed a senior in the West Village last year, the TLC told Streetsblog that unless a cabbie faces criminal charges, or a consumer files a complaint, the agency has no lawful basis for action against a driver who harms a pedestrian.
The Daily News reported that Himon was issued a summons for “unauthorized use,” which the paper described as “an administrative violation for not submitting a form notifying the Taxi and Limousine Commission that he would be driving that particular cab.” The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance is investigating the crash, as is NYPD, according to Kelly.
"The investigation is going forward. Collisions, accident investigations take some time. It takes some time to do that and reconstruct the scene. We’re looking for video," Kelly said.
Sources told The Post investigators were already poring over extensive surveillance video from the crash, which happened on the northwest corner of Sixth Avenue and West 49th Street about 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Cops are also interviewing witnesses and gathering all available evidence and could pursue charges including felonies if warranted, the sources said.
Paul White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, has called on TLC Commissioner David Yassky to "immediately revoke the driver's ability to operate a cab in New York City."
While it's commendable that NYC law enforcers are doing their jobs here, again, their reaction to this crash brings to mind dozens of other horrible incidents that garnered far less attention. It should not be exceptional that the police, the district attorney, and the city agency charged with governing taxi drivers are seeking justice after a horrendous act of vehicular violence.
