48-year-old Tiberet St. Cyr, a driver for Oliver Taxi, was shot and robbed around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
He was found on New Rose Street after crashing his cab. A witness, who didn't want to be identified, tells Action News he saw the crash.
"I seen the cab driver just come down the street, swerved over. There was two cars parked right here. He swerved over and then he hit one car and knocked the other car on the sidewalk, smacked that car into the back of this car," the witness said.
Originally, authorities thought St. Cyr had only facial injuries and a possible broken jaw. However, once he arrived at the hospital, doctors learned there was more to the story.
"We got a call that the guy had suffered a gunshot wound," said Sgt. Pedro Medina of the Trenton Police.
Shortly before the crash, police say St. Cyr was seen picking up three young black men with hoodies covering their heads at the Trenton train station. He picked them up, police say, after two other cabbies refused to drive the trio.
"I turned them down because they don't look okay, but Tiberet happened to pick them up, so it was his bad day," said cab driver Vital Beaunel.
St. Cyr's friends and fellow cab drivers are frightened by the shooting. They say every time a stranger gets in their taxis, drivers put their lives at risk. They also complain they are frequently targets of thieves who rob them of the meager fares they've earned.
"It's a very risky, dangerous business driving a cab," said driver Joseph Jacques.
St. Cyr is now reported to be awake and alert. Police are hoping that when they talk to him, he will be able to tell them exactly what happened.
