4 remain hospitalized in 'really horrible crash'
Four people remained hospitalized yesterday after a taxicab, apparently trying to avoid a collision with a car on Broad Street, jumped the curb in front of the Kimmel Center, hit a pedestrian and struck a light pole Wednesday night, authorities said.
Four people remained hospitalized yesterday after a taxicab, apparently trying to avoid a collision with a car on Broad Street, jumped the curb in front of the Kimmel Center, hit a pedestrian and struck a light pole Wednesday night, authorities said.
The impact at 10:05 p.m. caused the pole to explode. Debris from the impact hit a bicyclist, knocking her out, police said.
Police said the cab was trying to avoid hitting a Nissan Sentra that apparently was merging on Broad Street near Spruce. No traffic citations were issued, and police said they had no evidence that the cab was speeding.
"It was a really, really horrible accident," police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said. "To avoid one, it looks like a more tragic and horrible accident took place."
After hitting the pole, the car bounced back onto Broad, which police roped off between Walnut and Pine in both directions for several hours.
The pedestrian, Alfred Haubert, 58, of Tulip Street in Tacony, was listed in critical condition yesterday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Doctors had to amputate one of his legs, police said.
Abiodun Adelakun, 32, the driver of the red Victory Cab, passed out after the crash and was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition yesterday, police said.
His female passenger was listed in good condition at Jefferson, police said.
