Passenger Thrown From Cab During Accident

Worrying about being hit by a car while walking is one thing, and worrying about being hit by a drunk driver is another. Diana Tafur was ejected from a minivan taxi when it was hit by drunk driver in a BMW. The BMW driver, Harzem Sendogan, ran a red light on East 84th Street at First Avenue, and Tafur was "ejected from her seat in the back of the van through a side window and onto the street," next to a parked car. After last week's hit and run on 14th and First Avenue, where a drunk driver killed a pedstrian, you'd think people would think twice about driving and drinking. Tafur was not wearing a seat belt, and is being treated for severe head injuries at Weill Cornell Medical. Sendogan was charged with driving while intoxicated and assault.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission doesn't seem to specifically outline that passengers should wear seat belts, though there are signs that suggest passengers have to wear seat belts. Does the TLC need to bring back the celebrities reminding people to buckle up recordings? And in some cities, drivers won't move the car unless passengers are buckled up And in other accident news, a Barnard student was hit by a car while jogging at the intersection of West 79th and Riverside Drive - it's a particularly bad intersection, as Riverside Park and traffic from the West Side Highway is there.

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By Jen Chung in News on January 30, 2006 12:40 PM

Comments [rss]

Cindy

Just remember what caused this accident - a drunk driver. Yes, of course Diana should have had her seatbelt on but let's not forget that she didn't get behind the wheel of a car.

Marilyn

Even though I found the recordings amusing, I hate to admit it but I usually don't wear a seatbelt in a cab but that'll probably change now. Bad me.

lila

I really do think they should bring back those celebrity recordings. Every little reminder helps.

Toby

A few years ago, I was in a cab with no seatbelts to be found, and wouldn't you know the cabbie rear-ends someone and I hit the partition. That is when I swore off cabs.

Matty

I never understood why people don't wear seatbelts in cabs. You wear them when you're a passenger in any other car, right? Be safe, little gothamists.

craig

hate to be a nag here, but" intersecation" is still misspelled.

crybaby

i thought the headline read, 'passenger thrown from cab during argument'

nyc320

What happened to those recordings reminding riders to buckle up that used to play when you got in a cab? I'm not saying I miss the Rockettes and Elmo, it was annoying... but why did they stop doing it?

Jen

Yikes. I'm sorry. I need a V8. And a vacation.

yea

yes please fix the typo's, it's kinda as if you were drinkin' and typin'

craig

jen, fix the typos in this post.....being hit by a care.....and think twice about driving and driving.....i havent even read the rest of the post yet.