A reckless hit-and-run driver slammed into a taxi early this morning, seriously injuring the cabbie and a passenger inside, police said.
The accident occurred while BMW driver Gilberto Morales, 20, was allegedly speeding up Third Avenue in the East Village with his buddy Brandon Evans, 21, in the passenger seat, cops said.
Morales blew through a red light near East 13th Street and plowed into the taxi at 3:36 a.m., cops said. The cowardly motorist stopped the BMW, and after seeing the damage, fled the scene on foot with Evans, cops said.
Meanwhile, the cabbie and his customer were rushed to Bellevue Hospital with serious injuries, cops said.
Morales later returned to the scene and told cops he was the driver, police said. He was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident and reckless endangerment, cops said. Evans was also arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident, cops said.