Brief
Winnipeg taxi driver hospitalized after hammer assault
Unicity Taxi’s general manager urges witnesses to come forward after the Oct. 3 hammer attack left a driver in critical condition.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Unicity Taxi’s general manager said a driver was attacked with a hammer on Oct. 3 in Winnipeg and was taken to hospital in unstable condition.
What happened
The 26‑year‑old driver was flagged down near Sutherland and Higgins avenues. While asking the passenger how they intended to pay, the passenger allegedly became offended and struck the driver with a hammer. The assault continued as the driver tried to roll up his window. Police located the cab at the intersection of Nairn Avenue and Watt Street at about 2:20 a.m. after a passerby called 911 when the cab’s emergency lights activated. The driver was found unconscious with injuries to his upper body and was rushed to hospital, where he remains in unstable condition.
What was said
"It was a very serious incident," Abhishek Tara, general manager of Unicity Taxi, told the Winnipeg Free Press. He added, "He lost a lot of blood" and described how the driver’s quick response may have prevented more severe injuries. Const. Dani McKinnon of the Winnipeg Police Service said the major crimes unit is actively investigating the incident.
How it came about
Tara noted the driver has no family in Canada and comes from a humble background. He said abuse of taxi drivers is on the rise, referencing a recent punch incident at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport and two cabs sprayed with an unknown substance at Kildonan Place mall.
Key facts
- The attack occurred on Oct. 3 near Sutherland and Higgins avenues in Winnipeg. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- The driver was struck with a hammer while asking a passenger about payment. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Police found the driver unconscious at Nairn Avenue and Watt Street at 2:20 a.m. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- The driver was taken to hospital in unstable condition with upper‑body injuries. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Unicity Taxi’s general manager Abhishek Tara called for witnesses to come forward. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “Hammer attack on cabbie has industry on edge”
