Man charged after taxi driver stabbed

From the Kingston Whig-Standard Online

A 23-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after an Amey's Taxi driver was stabbed in the chest with an X-Acto knife around 3:15 a. m. yesterday.

The 60-year-old driver's injuries were not serious. He was treated and released from hospital.

"I talked to him (yesterday) morning and he's fine," said Mark Greenwood, president of Amey's Taxi.

"He wanted to drive (Wednesday night). I told him to take a couple of days off, but he wants to drive (tonight)."

According to Greenwood, the accused approached the driver, who was parked at the Canadian Tire gas bar at Princess Street and Bath Road, and asked for a drive to Napanee.

Moments later, the accused asked to use an Interac machine, so the driver pulled over at Princess and Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard.

At that point, Greenwood said, the fare reached around, hit the driver in the chest with his fist and ordered him out of the car.

"The driver said the guy didn't appear drunk or on drugs," said Greenwood.

After the driver complied, the accused drove the cab north along the boulevard before losing control of the vehicle, which ended up in a ditch near Hwy. 401.

By that time, police and canine units were on the lookout for the suspect.

He was arrested without incident, police say.

The man has been charged with attempted murder, robbery, dangerous driving and several other lesser charges. He appeared in bail court yesterday.

Coincidentally, this week marked the resumption of a preliminary hearing for a man accused of murdering an Amey's driver two years ago.

David Krick was stabbed to death while on duty June 16, 2007. Richard Edmund Smith is charged with first-degree murder.

"When a driver is assaulted, it's like an attack on your family," said Greenwood. "We are a family.

"Fortunately, (Wednesday's attack) turned out to be minor. I'm happy that it wasn't worse."

Copyright © 2009 The Whig Standard