Taxicab hits 2 pedestrians and hurts four passengers

A taxi driver who was allegedly speeding and driving recklessly hit and seriously injured two female pedestrians and hurt his four passengers in Gualo Rai on Thursday night.

Amrita Lal Sarker, 40, was arrested for reckless driving, violating pedestrians’ right of way at crosswalks, failing to exercise due care, failing to drive on the right side of the highway, and violating the speed limit.

The police report did not mention whether Sarker was injured or not. A separate report from the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, however, indicated that Sarker was treated and taken to the Commonwealth Health Center as well.

The two pedestrians—Li Chen and Zhao Hong Li—were admitted at CHC for further observation and treatment, according to police traffic investigator Adrian T. Mendiola.

Quoting a CHC physician, Mendiola said Chen is in critical condition and is awaiting medical evacuation. In a report he prepared Friday, Mendiola said that Chen sustained a laceration on the head, broken thigh bones on both legs, and had blood in the left lung.

The other pedestrian, Li, sustained a laceration on the head and bruises on the left leg, Mendiola said.

The four cab passengers—all of whom are tourists—were treated for minor injuries at CHC and later released.

The front passenger, Kai Rong Gao, had abrasions on the face, while Jan Guang Lui, the right rear passenger, had abrasions on the right ankle and lower left leg.

Fang Guo, the rear center passenger, had abrasions on the right ankle, while the left rear passenger, Rui Ting Zeng, had a contusion on the forehead and abrasions on the face.

At a hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $10,000 cash bail on Sarker and set the preliminary hearing for tomorrow, Wednesday, at 1:30pm.

Assistant public defender Cindy Nesbit was appointed as counsel for Sarker.

The silver 2008 Toyota Camry, with license plate TAXI-1832, had extensive damage on the front section after hitting a concrete gatepost near the main entrance of the Eucon International University.

Mendiola said when police officer Daniel Smith responded to the incident at 9:20pm, he found the car at its final resting place at the main entrance of the school along Chalan Pale Arnold.

Smith saw two women lying on the pavement adjacent to the right side of the car. North of the car near the eastern wall of the school gate were two couples who were among the four passengers of the cab. The couples appeared to be in pain.

Medics brought all six victims to CHC.

Through a translator, passenger Gao stated that Sarker was driving fast and that he became worried as they were approaching the pedestrian crosswalk.

Gao said that Sarker did not use his brakes as they approached the crosswalk and just turned right to avoid hitting the two crossing pedestrians.

The car shot to the grassy area and then hit the concrete gatepost.

Gao said he believes that Sarker was driving above 70 kilometers per hour (about 43.49 miles per hour).

Mendiola said that based on his investigation at the scene, there were no skid marks at the shoulder of the road.

Mendiola said about 15 feet from the pedestrian sign post were two tire tracks that stretched about 100 feet to the concrete gate post.

DFEMS spokesman Derek Gersonde said yesterday that medics were dispatched at 9:21pm after they received a 911 call about the accident.

Gersonde said the medics came upon seven patients and that triage was used to determine the severity of their injuries.

Gersonde said medics applied cervical collars and used backboards to immobilize all seven patients. They were then brought to CHC.