A Christmas Day outing turned chaotic in Manhattan's Herald Square when a taxi veered onto the sidewalk, striking six pedestrians, including a young boy and his mother visiting from Australia. The incident, which occurred just after 4 p.m. near Macy's iconic flagship store at the busy intersection of 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, left the city rattled during the holiday season.
The 58-year-old taxi driver, reportedly heading northbound, jumped the curb and plowed into pedestrians in the crowded tourist area, law enforcement sources said. Initial investigations suggest the driver may have suffered a medical episode before losing control of the vehicle, but no charges had been filed as of Tuesday evening.
Among the injured were a 9-year-old boy and his 41-year-old mother, both tourists from Australia, as well as a 49-year-old woman. All three were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The boy and his mother were taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, while the third victim was treated at Bellevue Hospital. Three other pedestrians-ages 19, 37, and 49-declined medical attention at the scene.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing moments immediately following the crash, with bystanders rushing to aid the victims. One tourist from Oregon recounted how a group of good Samaritans worked together to rescue the boy and his mother. According to ABC 7, the boy's mother was knocked under the cab, and the still-spinning wheel was on top of the child's leg until bystanders intervened.
The young boy had been pinned under the taxi, with its wheel still spinning on his leg. After freeing the child, the bystanders helped move him to safety before realizing his mother was trapped beneath the vehicle. Both were eventually extricated and attended to by first responders.
Sam Mohammed, 35, who operates a hot dog stand near the crash site, described the scene as terrifying. "I saw the car going onto the sidewalk and hitting people. It was very scary," he said.
The crash occurred as law enforcement agencies worldwide were on high alert following a similar tragedy in Germany last week, where an anti-Islam activist drove into a Christmas market, killing five and injuring over 200. While the circumstances in Manhattan appear accidental, the incident nonetheless cast a shadow over the city's typically festive holiday atmosphere.
Tourists and locals alike expressed shock at the sudden disruption. "It's obviously disturbing," said Clint Burnette, 58, visiting from Colorado. "You don't really want to see anything like this."
Hours after the crash, the area remained cordoned off with police tape as investigators worked to determine the cause. Tourists continued to mill around, snapping photos and observing the aftermath, while holiday music played from passing bike-riding Santa Clauses.
