Livery Cab Driver Charged In Death Of Woman Hit While Crossing Street On Manhattan's East Side
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A woman was struck and killed by a livery cab driver on Manhattan's East Side Monday morning and now the driver is facing charges.
Chopper 2 was over the scene on Madison Avenue at 36th Street around 8:30 a.m. The victim was crossing with the light when she was struck and became trapped under the car.
As CBS2's Steve Langford reported, several good Samaritans rushed in to lift the vehicle off the 77-year-old woman.
"We had to lift the car in order for us to save the lady," said taxi driver Rony Damestoir.
Unfortunately the victim, identified by police as Carol Dauplaise, was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital Center.
Surveillance video shows Damestoir's yellow cab making a left turn before the dark sedan followed, hitting and pinning the victim.
"I don't know why he didn't see her," said Damestoir.
"Could have been me," said witness Emma Gershon.
Gershon was walking right behind the victim at the time of the crash.
"I jumped back, immediately called 911. Good Samaritans ran by and helped lift the car," she said.
The driver of the vehicle appeared to be praying while police questioned him, Langford reported.
"Very disturbing; I've never seen anything like this in New York City in my life," said witness Julie Adams.
The driver, 49-year-old Buddhi Gurung, was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, police said.