New Haven Independent

Cabbie Hits Pedestrian

by Paul Bass | December 16, 2009 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Sydney Simpkins was on the way to have dinner with her sister at Delaney’s restaurant in Westville Tuesday evening when a collision stopped her in her tracks.

She saw a Metro Taxi driver run a light at Whalley and Central, Simpkins said, then hit a man crossing the street. The collision occurred around 5:30 p.m.

“He hit him pretty hard,” Simpkins (pictured), who lives in Hamden, said at the scene. She described the victim as a “street person.” She said the cabbie “offered to drive him home.”

The police arrived and blocked off Central between Whalley and Fountain. A small crowd gathered to watch in the darkness as two officers interviewed the driver and witnesses. Meanwhile, a half-dozen emergency vehicles sped by on their way to what turned out to be a minor unrelated fire up the hill on Fountain Terrace.

The driver was parked in front of Delaney’s as police investigated the scene. He declined to discuss the incident and sought to avoid having his picture taken. The disheveled man he hit, sitting in the back seat, said he was doing fine.

Police spokesman Officer Joe Avery said the driver, who’s 27, had been traveling westbound on Whalley when he turned left onto Central and struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk. The 47-year-old pedestrian declined medical help. Police charged the driver with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to carry a driver’s license. Avery said the driver does have a license, but didn’t have it on him.

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Comments

Posted by: Anon | December 16, 2009 11:57 AM

Cabbies are always running lights and speeding in excess of 50 mph, even on small neighborhood streets. Consequently, they have a much higher crash rate than average drivers.

Has the Mayor called to complain yet?

Given that cabs are technically public vehicles, how about a special ordinance that fines cab drivers $1000 for speeding or running lights? This situation is out of control.

Posted by: Oops | December 16, 2009 12:03 PM

Even if the light wasn't red,I thought there was a no left turn sign at that intersection.Glad the man hit was o.k.

Posted by: fingers | December 16, 2009 3:09 PM

i've called the cab company when i've seen cabs run red lights. the number's posted right on the cab.

Posted by: Carole | December 16, 2009 3:31 PM

There IS a no-left-turn sign at that intersection. If the cabbie did make a left from Whalley onto Central, he should be charged with that violation as well. And with running the light, if that allegation bears out.

Posted by: anon | December 16, 2009 6:21 PM

Fingers, it's nice that you called the company, but those types of complaints get ignored. Has the Mayor called?

Posted by: westvillian | December 24, 2009 11:51 AM

New haven SUCKS plain and simple when it comes to speeding. They just don't care! It's so simple. Start with the obvious. Like School Buses. The speed limit is 25. Plain and simple -- don't exceed it!

This is the MOST pathetic place in the world in regard to speeding and total disregard for traffic laws. The city doesn't care about speeding. Frankly, the don't! Because its all about money, and when they issue tickets, the city doesn't get to keep the money, so from their standpoint, why care?

Cabbie Hits Pedestrian

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