Cab driver rams pedestrian

A pedestrian who complained about a cab driver’s driving ended up being the victim of vehicular assault:

Describing the Dec. 5 incident, Seattle Detective Timothy DeVore said the alleged victim was walking in the alley with two friends when, at about 9 p.m., they were nearly struck by Christy’s cab.

Christy, a driver for Yellow Cab, was stopped and attempting to turn on to Mercer Street when the three pedestrians confronted him, DeVore told the court. The victim, a resident of the neighborhood, said he was tired of cabs driving too fast down the alley where he and others walk.

A slice of pizza in hand, Christy was unrepentant, the detective continued.

“There are no normal people left in Seattle, nothing but (anti-gay slur) and scum,” Christy is alleged to have replied.

Christy then pulled into traffic and appeared to be leaving the scene when he made a U-turn at 1st Avenue North and drove toward the trio, who were crossing Mercer Street, the detective continued. Having driving past, Christy is alleged to have cut a second U-turn and drove into one of the men who’d confronted him.

“Christy sped his cab toward (the victim) striking him on the left side of his body,” DeVore told the court. “Just prior to being struck by the vehicle, (the victim) jumped in the air and bounced on top of the cab and then onto the street.”

The man sustained minor injuries and was treated by Seattle Fire Department medics. Christy, the detective said, fled the scene but was located by officers after a witness noted his cab number.

The driver was charged with second-degree assault.

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4 Responses to “Cab driver rams pedestrian”


  • 2nd degree assault? If he had used a gun, what would the charge have been?

  • http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.36.011 Looks like first degree assault is a higher level than this. Still, hopefully he gets a substantial prison sentence.

  • “(1) A person is guilty of assault in the first degree if he or she, with intent to inflict great bodily harm:
         (a) Assaults another with a firearm or any deadly weapon or by any force or means likely to produce great bodily harm or death; or…”

    A car being used as a battering ram certainly is a deadly weapon. Someone making two illegal u-turns to make contact at speed would be hard pressed to call it any kind of accident. Thanks for making my point.

  • In popular culture “running someone over” is a recurring joke.Cars rule,it’s in the very architecture of the street. Drivers regularly violate pedestrian space in front of police without incident. Sherrif nearly ran me down in sidewalk claiming he couldn’t see me in black clothing. Woman points to cell phone at her ear in apology for violating sidewalk. Try holding same sex hands and see what drivers do. Get real.

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