Police Call Taxi Into Crowd A 'Tragic Accident'
BOSTON (CBS) – A taxi crashed into a group of people at a Logan Airport cab stand on Monday afternoon, injuring 10.
Massachusetts State Police Major Frank McGinn said the incident that occurred at about 1:40 p.m. on Porter Street seems to be a "tragic accident."
"It does not appear at this time to be any indication of an intentional act," he said.
Officials are looking into whether the 56-year-old Cambridge taxi driver stepped on the gas instead of the brakes and drove up onto a break area where many cab drivers were. He blamed the crash on a mechanical issue.
The driver was cooperative with investigators and allowed to leave the barracks following his interview.
He works for Metro Cab, which did not respond to a request for comment from WBZ-TV.
#Sources: several other #taxi drivers on break suffered injuries as result of #EastBoston taxi crash #WBZ
— Cheryl Fiandaca (@CherylFiandaca) July 3, 2017
Other taxi drivers at the scene described the cab shooting forward at a high rate of speed.
In the immediate aftermath, people tried to pull the car off victims who had been struck, several witnesses told WBZ.
Cab driver Jephtet Roseme said the driver indicated there was a mechanical failure with his vehicle.
"Something unusual must have happened," Roseme said. "The car was flying. He told me there was nothing he could do."
On scene gathering details about the taxi driver who lost control and plowed into a group of people at taxi waiting area #WBZ pic.twitter.com/hr5fpSjhZz
— Ryan Kath (@RyanNBCBoston) July 3, 2017
All ten victims were taxi drivers, according to police.
Luis St. Pierre said the area is a popular place for cab drivers to gather and play games while awaiting their next fare. He thought about how it could have easily been him sitting in the picnic table area when the car jumped the curb.
"It was very tough to see. I cried," St. Pierre said of the injured people. "I hope everyone will be okay."
Many drivers said the man was nice and well-mannered, nothing that would lead them to believe he crashed on purpose.
Police are not releasing the driver's identity at this time.
The injuries range from serious to minor, police said.
One victim most seriously hurt is a 43-year-old man from Cambridge, who is in serious but stable condition.
The cab pool is closed while the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports