MANHATTAN – A frightening multi-car crash on the Upper East Side involving taxi left a bus shelter destroyed, a building smashed in and two people injured, one a person standing on the sidewalk.
Just before 5pm Friday, a Taxi driver lost control of his van after being rear-ended by second car that had also been rear-ended by a third car behind it– this all happening on bustling Second Avenue just south of E 82nd street–sending the Taxi crashing through a wall of a bus shelter sending metal and glass flying 15 feet away, shattered all over the sidewalk– but that didn’t slow it the out-of-control taxi down.
The Taxi continued to barrel down the sidewalk another 50 feet until it careened into Amura Japanese restaurant, destroying the entrance and storefront and striking a 51-year-old man standing in front– his leg was cut and injured in the crash.
ALSO READ: Broad Daylight Stabbing in Yorkville, Suspect on the Loose
Mangled metal, wood and glass made it difficult to even tell where the doorway was, but police could be seen inside speaking with Restaurant staff.
Despite the wreckage and trail of destruction, there was only two minor injures– the driver of the taxi whose airbag did not deploy and the 51-year-old man who was struck.
Crowds formed around the scene and cars passed by slowly all to get a look at the devastating damage. Right now, it’s not clear what caused the Taxi driver to lose control, but witnesses say there was an accident involving multiple cars beforehand.
Stay with Upper East Site for developments in this breaking story.
For updates around the clock, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
