The hitting of several people by a taxi driver in Manhattan was due to a medical episode suffered by the driver, said the New York police, who warned that all those involved in the accident – including a 9-year-old child – were in stable condition.
A taxi driver whose car struck six pedestrians while jumping onto the sidewalk in a Manhattan shopping district on Christmas Day was suffering from a health problem at the time, New York City police said Thursday.
Two of the injured are Australian, according to that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A police spokesperson did not want to provide details about what type of medical episode the taxi driver had suffered, but indicated that at this time a criminal act is not suspected. The 58-year-old man was taken to a hospital in stable condition for further evaluation.
A 9-year-old boy with a laceration to his right thigh, a 49-year-old woman with a leg injury and a 41-year-old woman were also hospitalized. All were in stable condition, according to police.
Three other pedestrians, ages 19, 37 and 49, refused medical treatment.
A statement from the Australian Foreign Ministry did not provide further details about the Australian citizens who were injured, but said they were receiving consular assistance.
The taxi pulled onto the sidewalk in front of Macy's flagship store in Herald Square, a major shopping destination for tourists and locals that takes up an entire block between 34th and 35th streets. Macy's is one of many businesses in the city that They present elaborate Christmas displays.