By David Greene
One man is dead and eight others were injured after a livery taxi driver slammed into a bus stop. The cabbie swerved to avoid hitting a mini van, making an illegal U-turn on busy W. Kingsbridge Road.
Police and fire rescue teams were called to W. Kingsbridge Road, between University Avenue and Web Avenue, where several victims were briefly trapped under the wreckage and debris from the bus stop shed, which partially came down on top of the victims.
Police stated that seven pedestrians were struck, including a 76-year-old man who was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Barnabas Hospital.
The more serious of the injured included a 40-year-old woman whose left foot was amputated and a 71-year-old woman who suffered trauma to the head and her right leg were crushed.
The still-unidentified driver of the livery taxi, registered to, "First Class," car service, described by investigators as a male, Hispanic, 57, was removed to Jacobi Hospital with contusions and abrasions, but was expected to recover.
The driver of the mini van, who is believed to be responsible for the accident, described as a male, Black, 58-years of age, was given a Breathalyzer test on the scene and later taken into police custody.
Pedro Jaquez, 33, a resident of Fordham who was working a few doors away from the accident, recalled, "The bench was dislodged and it flew and hit other people, it was horrible."