New York cab hits shoppers outside Macy’s, Australians among the injured

Washington: Seven people have been injured in New York City when a taxi jumped a kerb and hit pedestrians outside the Macy’s flagship store after the driver suffered a medical episode, police said.

A nine-year-old boy, two women aged 49 and three other women aged 19, 37 and 41 were injured, as well as the 58-year-old taxi driver, police said. Three people were taken to hospital.

The boy was visiting from Australia with his mother, NBC New York reported, citing law enforcement sources.

The incident took place in Midtown Manhattan in Herald Square near the corner of West 34th Street on Christmas Day. The store, with its elaborately decorated display windows, is a magnet for tourists and native New Yorkers around the holidays.

ABC7 New York reported that a group of passers-by sprung into action, turning the taxi’s engine off and lifting the car to rescue the boy and his mother. Witness Ryan Tucker told the TV station he was visiting from Oregon when the accident happened.

“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, realised that what ended up being his mom underneath,” Tucker told ABC7. Tucker said his wife was hit in the back by the taxi but was OK.

ABC7 aired audio of an interview with the boy’s mother, who said he had broken his femur and suffered severe burns to his leg. He has undergone two surgeries.

“He’s going to be in hospital for quite some time,” she said.