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Cab Passenger: "Next Thing I Knew, I Was In The Coffee Shop"
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 6, 2010
Modified Sep 7, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 6, 2010
Modified Sep 7, 2010
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Photograph by Vautrin
The Post follows up with some more details about the horrible crash in the East Village early Sunday morning that involved a taxi cab hitting an SUV and ending up in The Bean coffee shop at First Avenue and Third Street. Five people, including a 71-year-old man sitting on the bench outside, were injured. Here's how the Post explains the incident:
The accident occurred as cabby Syed Nazir, 49, was driving up First Avenue with a passenger, Kristin Kunkel, in the back seat. He collided with a Jeep Cherokee driven by Robert Batista, 19, who was trying to turn onto the avenue from East Third Street. Nazir swerved, but hit the Jeep anyway, and then jumped a bike lane and curb. He hit two men riding bicycles, and finally stopped after smashing through The Bean's front window.
Kunkel, who lost two front teeth, said, "All I remember is that he was swerving. I put my hands in front of my face, and the next thing I knew, I was in the coffee shop."
Apparently 71-year-old Preston Krupin suffered neck and back injuries: He was "serious but stable condition yesterday morning, but hours later, doctors performed a lengthy operation. He was said to be in recovery last night." One witness at the scene, Jordyn Thiessen, who helped one of the injured, told the Post that the new bike lane on First Avenue—which has a concrete barrier—has been causing a few accidents, "The bicyclists are not following the rules. They are going through red lights. They are just speeding along the way."
She also commented on EV Grieve about being at the scene, "There was one man holding that young man's head the entire time. There were men and women at each injured person, helping and offering solace and comfort. They all showed a great deal of compassion till the medical units arrived. Makes me proud of New Yorkers all over again."
Tagged
bicyclist
cab
car crash
east village
first avenue
suv
the bean
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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