Attack on taxi driver leaves local cabbies on edge
Gilroy – A 68-year-old cab driver suffered a brutal attack to the face Monday afternoon after an unknown passenger attacked him from behind, and then stole the taxi, police said. It was Gilroy’s second carjacking of the year.
The suspect was picked up in Golden Taxi no. 6 at the intersection of Luchessa Avenue and Monterey Road about 2:20pm and asked for a ride to Las Animas Park. He is described as a Hispanic male in his 30s, with shoulder length black hair, a goatee, bad body odor and he was last seen wearing black pants and a black jacket.
At the last minute the suspect changed his destination and asked for a ride to 8800 Lilly Avenue. apartments. When the cab arrived, the suspect started hitting the driver from the backseat, police said.
The man did not demand money or the keys beforehand.
“It was totally unexpected,” said Sgt. Wes Stanford. “The cab driver even knocked a dollar off the fare.”
He was transported to Saint Louise Regional Hospital with bruises to his face and hands. Police do not believe the injuries are life-threatening.
The victim was semi-conscious from the attack, Stanford said.
“(The suspect) almost knocked the guy out,” he said.
Police believe the attacker may have been holding a hard object in his hands during the assault, but are not certain exactly what it was.
The driver jumped out of the cab to escape the blows. Meanwhile the suspect hopped into the front seat and fled with the vehicle.
According to Golden Taxi manager Alberto Lustre, the cabbie was still in the hospital as of press time.
Local drivers are rattled from the incident.
“It’s scary,” he said. “It’s very, very scary for drivers.”
Lustre is hoping the injured driver will return to work, but believes the incident may be too frightening for him to recover from.
Late last month, two men were arrested on suspicion of carjacking after attempting to steal a vehicle at Church Street and Farrell Avenue. The two were arrested after successfully hijacking a second vehicle later in the night on the 7500 block of Rosanna St.
So far police do not have any leads in Monday’s incident.
Carjackings are not common in Gilroy. There were no carjackings in 2005.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the Gilroy Police Department at 846-0350. To remain anonymous call 846-0330.
Suspect Sought
Police seek a Hispanic male in his 30s, with shoulder length black hair, a goatee and who has bad body odor.
