Cab slams into Sneaker Town storefront in Roxborough

Nearly 30 spectators gathered at the intersection of Ridge and Leverington avenues Thursday afternoon after a cab crashed through the brick and glass storefront of Sneaker Town. 

Witnesses say it happened just before 3 p.m.

“We saw this taxi driver coming through the front door and we just heard a loud crash,” said Joe Son, owner of Sneaker Town at 6186 Ridge Avenue. “I just came to the door and [the driver] sat there for five to 10 minutes; he was stunned, we were stunned and we frantically tried to call the police.” 

Son said he had two customers inside the store at the time of the crash. He said no employees or customers were injured.

Police officers on the scene declined to comment. Officer Tanya Little with the Philadelphia Police Department’s Media Relations unit did not have any information on the incident. 

“We’re all just shaken up,” he said, adding that the driver of the cab never came out to talk to him or make sure everyone was safe after the crash. “He didn’t come out to talk to us. He sat in the car until police officers arrived. I’m kind of surprised he’s walking around the street right now,” he said about an hour after the crash.

Jonathan Fynes was at the Sunoco gas station across the street when the accident happened. He said he noticed the cab driving at a high rate of speed on Leverington Avenue from Upper Roxborough. He said the cab driver took a quick left onto Ridge Avenue, hit a pedestrian and slammed into the sneaker store. 

“There was no reason why he wouldn’t have seen [the pedestrian] crossing the street,” Frynes said. 

Frynes added that the pedestrian, who looked to be about 50 or 60-years-old, was hit on his side and taken to the hospital.

NewsWorks will follow this story as more information becomes available.

Lane Blackmer contributed to this story.