Sian Green, a British tourist, was mowed down by Himon’s cab near Rockefeller Center on Tuesday. (Caters News Agency)
New York City Police officers investigate Himon’s cab that jumped a curb on 6th Avenue. (REUTERS)
The “thug” bike messenger in the road-rage cab crash that maimed a British former beauty queen is the only one to blame in the horrific incident, a former taxi industry honcho said today.
“The only crime committed here was by the bicyclist,” former New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers head Fernando Mateo said at a press conference with Mohammed Faysal Himon – the cabbie who jumped a curb and mowed down tourist Sian Green, 23, Tuesday morning, severing her left foot and leaving her right leg badly mangled.
“This is not Mohammed’s fault,” Mateo, who said he represents Himon, insisted. “It is the fault of the cyclist.”
“Who would you rather believe, a man who immigrated to this country and supports his family back home, or a thug?”
Himon, 24 and a Bangladesh native who has been in the US five years, told The Post in an exclusive interview earlier this week that cyclist Kenneth Olivo started pounding on his cab and yelling at him as the two made their way up Sixth Avenue the morning of the crash. “He was in my way and I got upset, so I gave him notice that I wanted to pass through,” Himon said.
Seconds later, Himon’s cab jumped the curb near 48th Street and plowed into Green, a tourist who had stopped with a friend for a hotdog.
“It’s not my fault, it was an accident,” Himon said today. “I didn’t see [Olivo] — only when he banged on my car. He is not good.”
Olivo, 40, has a long rap sheet that includes 22 arrests, including a recent bust for threatening to decapitate a man and kill his family.
Himon has a laundry list of moving violations, including and accident that injured a passenger in 2010. He told The Post that he’s a lousy driver, but needs the job.
Mohammed today said his record is not that bad, and that his violations are traffic violations but he’s not a bad driver.
Mateo said Himon should be allowed to stay on the road and will fight efforts by the city Taxi and Limousine Commission to yank his license.
“He has seven points,” Mateo said. “If he pays $1,000 fine he can work until he has 10 points. The federation and its 28,000 workers will not allow his license to be revoked.”
“There’s a lot of pressure and demands on drivers. There are drivers that are irresponsible but that isn’t the case here.”
“This young man has a family to support,” Mateo said. “If he can find another job, great. If not, he should be allowed to drive a cab.”
Mateo also said he is asking for legislation to force cyclists to be licensed and carry insurance, and for the licenses to be revoked for excessive violations.
Meanwhile, the taxi drivers union has set up a fund to help pay Sian Green’s medical bills, and Mateo said he has pledged $3,000 “to help the family.” He also plans to visit with Green and her family.
Himon said he is praying for Green, adding, “I wish her good luck.”