Car accident involving taxi kills woman in New York

A woman is dead following a collision involving a taxi, according to bystanders who witnessed the tragic event. The car accident that killed the 76-year-old out-of-state visitor is still being investigated by New York authorities. For the moment, the taxi driver’s license has been suspended pending the outcome of that investigation, The taxi driver has not yet been charged with a crime. 

Witnesses say the woman was attempting to cross the street at around 2:45 p.m. on May 9 when the accident occurred. Witnesses report seeing the SUV taxi attempt to negotiate a left-hand turn when it collided head-on with the woman. The force of the impact propelled her into the air and over the vehicle. 

The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save her life. She was declared dead some 45 minutes later. The cab driver apparently stayed at the scene of the accident and cooperated with police as their investigation began. This woman’s death marks the 32nd pedestrian fatality in New York this year. 

New York police will continue to investigate the role of the taxi driver in the car accident. If it becomes clear that he could have safely avoided striking the woman, or if he was operating his vehicle recklessly at the time of the accident, he might face criminal charges related to her death. Additionally, any surviving family members will be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the cab driver and possibly his company as well, presuming sufficient evidence exists to implicate the man in her death. 

Source: New York Daily News, “Woman hit, killed by taxi in Midtown as shoppers watched: officials“, Andy Mai, Thomas Tracy, Rocco Parascandola, Ben Kochman, May 9, 2015