A gut-wrenching incident unfolded in Manhattan when a runaway taxi slammed into two women walking on the sidewalk. This shocking moment was captured on video, showing one woman propelled into a basement while the other landed hard on the street.
The accident occurred on a Friday afternoon along Rivington Street, near Essex Street, as both women paused outside a grocery store. Suddenly, a taxi lost control and struck them, as detailed in surveillance footage that surfaced.
The impact hurled them onto the taxi’s hood before the cab crashed into a nearby warehouse, causing an explosion of glass, flowers, and debris across the street on the Lower East Side.
Witnesses recounted the horrifying scene. One woman was thrown down the exterior basement stairs of a corner store, while her friend lay on the sidewalk, disoriented.
“I was just eating nearby when I saw it happen,” a witness shared, recalling how the taxi lost control and hit the two women.
One of the women ended up on the right side of the taxi, while the other fell inside the basement area. It really felt surreal. I was actually speaking with that other girl, trying to reassure her as her friend called out for her. I heard a faint response, ‘I’m here, I’m here!’ until help arrived.
Those who witnessed the crash, including friends of the victims, kept in touch with her as they waited for the police to show up.
Nearby shops were left in disbelief, initially fearing that the taxi had become a victim itself. One person even mentioned seeing smoke billowing from one of the vehicles, while another described the event as “horrifying.”
Reports indicated that three individuals were taken to local hospitals but should recover, according to the FDNY.
A passenger named Brenna was in the taxi when it unexpectedly lost control. “Everything was fine, and then suddenly, I found myself near the flower shop,” she recounted. “I didn’t realize what had happened until I stepped out and saw someone sprawled on the ground and another beneath the car.”
Thankfully, all three of those injured are expected to pull through.
