A group of Good Samaritans acted heroically on Christmas Day in Manhattan, lifting a taxi cab that had jumped the curb and crashed into pedestrians, trapping a mother and her nine-year-old son beneath the vehicle. The incident occurred near Macy’s at the intersection of 34th Street and Sixth Avenue shortly after 4:00 p.m., according to reports.
The taxi driver, a 58-year-old man, reportedly experienced a medical episode, leading him to lose control of the vehicle. The cab struck several people standing on the sidewalk, creating a chaotic scene.
A tourist from Oregon, whose wife was grazed by the cab, described the dramatic rescue. After ensuring his wife was safe, he and others rushed to the scene to help the victims. The mother, despite her injuries, was described as “unbelievably stable and responsive” given the circumstances.
Six pedestrians were hit in total, but only the 41-year-old mother, her son, and another victim, a 49-year-old pedestrian, were transported to the hospital. Thankfully, police confirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The selfless actions of those who lifted the taxi highlighted the power of community and compassion in the face of a frightening event. Authorities are continuing to investigate the accident, including the driver’s medical condition.
“I ran over and noticed there was a little boy, his leg was underneath the front passenger tire as it was spinning. And then there was a group of people,” the man said. “One gentleman… got into it to shut it off. There was a whole group of us that ripped the fender off, lifted the car back and then that’s when I grabbed the little boy, got him to the corner, realized that what ended up being his mom underneath.”
