COPS CALL CAB CRASH ‘TRAGIC ACCIDENT’
Driver defended by peers as ‘nice’ guy
A cabbie plowed into a crowd of fellow drivers near the taxi pool at Logan International Airport yesterday afternoon, injuring 10 in an incident that appears to be accidental, police said.
“There is no indication that this was an intentional act,” State police Maj. Frank McGinn said. “This appears to be a tragic accident.”
The injured, including one who was in serious condition, were transported to Boston hospitals, some with broken bones and other internal injuries.
The driver does not appear to have had a medical problem before the 1:45 p.m. incident, and it’s too early to determine if there was a mechanical failure with the cab, McGinn said. The cause remains under investigation.
The 56-year-old driver, a Cambridge man, has no history of infractions, McGinn said, adding the driver has been cooperative.
He described the cab driver, whose identity currently is not being released by authorities, as a “very nice gentleman.”
Several cab drivers who witnessed the crash told the Herald the taxi appeared to be traveling at speeds as fast as 80 mph when it veered seemingly out of control around a line of cabs waiting to be dispatched and plowed into an area where cab drivers frequently congregate during break time.
“He’s a very nice man,” one witness said of the driver, speculating the cause might be mechanical failure. “He wouldn’t hurt anyone. It had to have been the car.”
“He was aware of what happened and when we asked him about it, he said the car flew by itself,” said Jephet Roseme, 65, a cab driver from Brockton. “There was nothing he could have done. He felt badly about what happened, but there was nothing he could have done; he barely escaped from the accident. He feels very, very terrible. He was shaking.”
Roseme said he was inside the building and came out when he heard a commotion outside. He saw people frantically trying to move the car, he said, and when he joined in the effort he noticed two people were trapped underneath.
The runaway cab damaged a small non denominational worship center before plowing into the crowd. McGinn said to his knowledge no one was inside at the time, and it does not appear the house of worship was targeted.
“I think maybe he lost control of the cab or something,” said cab driver Mohamed Bahaj. “He was going fast, maybe 80.”
Pierre said drivers had congregated to socialize in the area, where there are several stone tables with chairs and cabdrivers frequently gather to play dominoes, eat lunch or play cards.
“There were a lot of people out there; it’s a nice day and it wasn’t that busy,” Pierre said. “People are just outside to enjoy. I could’ve been there, but this morning I decided to stay in my cab.”
The car, a Toyota Camry that sustained front-end damage, was stopped on the side of the taxi pool building with its airbags deployed.