[UPDATE] Cab Crashes Into Coffee Shop In East Village, Injures Five

[UPDATE BELOW] Multiple people were injured early this morning as an SUV cab crashed into The Bean on First Avenue and Third Street. Reader Stacie Joy writes us:

My friend and I were walking home from a photoshoot tonight (cameras strapped to our bodies) when we saw an awful accident on First Avenue and 3rd Street -- right at The Bean coffeeplace. The guy who was hit by the taxi told me his name is Will, he's 28, and lives on First Street. He was a total trooper, covered in blood and with teeth knocked out but concerned about his friends. I hope he and everyone else who was injured will heal up quickly; the accident was horrible.

Witnesses say the cab swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle around 1:30 a.m. and crashed into the storefront. All three victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital. The NYPD tells us no charges have been filed.

[UPDATE] The Daily News reports five people were injured in the crash, including a 71-year-old man who was sitting outside the coffee shop at the time. The taxi reportedly collided with a black Jeep Cherokee as it turned onto First Avenue from Third Street, and then jumped the curb and crashed into the coffee shop. Several witnesses say the Jeep ran a red light, but driver Danny Batista, 19, says the cabbie was to blame. "He was flying up First," said Batista, who was heading to Katz's deli. "I heard a horn and I looked and I tried to turn and I got hit. I had the light."

[UPDATE 1:53 p.m.] According to WPIX, one person died as a result of the crash.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on September 5, 2010 9:25 AM

Comments [rss]

Jordyn

I did not make this an issue about bicyclists.. having been on the scene.. it was clear these poor people were hit by cars.. my comment was taken out of context. I was discussing that the new lanes and islands were confusing pedestrians and cars and that is mostly why accidents occured in this area. There have been 3 in the last month. I did mention that a number of bicyclists were not following traffic rules and had almost hit people too. The other quote that was wrong is that one woman was hit by a motorcycle and another by a car not by a cyclist. Jordyn Thiessen

Jordyn

we just had another accident just now 10 feet away from this other one... that makes the 4th one now in a month... the driver is ok..

Hugh Sansom

No charges.... Of course. When is a driver ever charged with anything in New York? (Except parking -- gotta get those parking tickets out.) Is there _anything_ an NYC driver could do that would bring some kind of charge?

luke*

Someone fucked up, but no one is to blame? That's hilarious. You get in a car in this country and you can do all kinds of damage without worrying about the consequences. *honk honk* I'm drivin' here get outta the way!

sssocialservice

I walked by the bean last night 10 minutes before this happend..I saw the old man mentioned, sitting outside..ugh..sad

Rocknrope

Wow, if you were 10 minutes later you may be dead.

JacqueMehoff

damn, it had to be one of those SUV cabs, too.

and that bench, so someone was on it?

Think2wice

So far they're saying no charges on anyone. I hope the victims have some kind of health coverage.

I say again, curbside bollards for all the sidewalks in the city. And let the drivers smash and crash themselves to their hearts content. Unprotected sidewalks are a relic of a slower, horse-drawn age.

ktinnyc

Google search shows that there are 351 miles of roads in Manhattan alone. There are 5280 feet per mile so say you need a bollard every 4 feet that is 1320 x 2 (both sides of the street) bollards per mile which equals 2640 bollards per mile. Conservatively let's say it cost $100 to install each bollard. I'll let you do the rest of the math.