crime and misdemeanors

What a Wonderful Town: Man Hit by a Taxi, Then Punched in the Face by Its Passenger

Sharks looking for prey Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Here’s proof that Old New York still exists: Yesterday evening on the Lower East Side, a driver was rear-ended by a taxi, then punched in the face by the cab’s passenger. The 56-year-old victim was driving just after 11 p.m. when he was rear-ended by a green cab at Grand and Willett Streets. When he left his car to examine the damage and snap a picture of the offending taxi, a male passenger got out and punched him in the face before jumping back into the cab, which sped off into the night.

It seems likely that the cab driver and his passenger knew each other, but isn’t it nice to imagine that they just really had each others’ backs? And, bonded by their shared moment of impromptu violence, that they’re still out there on the run together? Although, if we’re being honest, it’s more likely this whole thing is just part of some guerrilla-marketing campaign for Uber.

Man Hit by a Taxi, Punched in Face by Passenger