11/14/2013
By Ivan Pereira
The Manhattan district attorney’s office announced Thursday that it will not pursue charges against the cabdriver who struck a British tourist in midtown.
A spokesperson for District Attorney Cy Vance said the DA’s office spent two months investigating the Aug. 20 incident at Rockefeller Center, in which Faysal Kabir Mohammad Himon allegedly drove erratically after squabbling with a bicyclist and hit Sian Green.
Green, 23, lost most of her left leg and received assistance from several bystanders, including TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The district attorney said there wasn’t enough evidence to show that Himon, 24, broke the law.
“We have concluded that criminal charges cannot be filed in this case. In making this determination, prosecutors who are specially trained in vehicular crimes reviewed all available evidence and took into consideration relevant sections of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws,” Vance’s office said in a statement.
Green’s lawyer said she and her family were shocked but wouldn’t let the news hinder her recovery process.
“While she is incredibly dismayed by this decision, she does not let it affect her positive spirit, unbelievable strength and incredible poise, which she demonstrated to the world throughout this ordeal,” they said.
When she was released from the hospital a month ago, Green thanked the good Samaritans who came to her rescue.
Fernando Mateo, the president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, praised Vance’s office for not pressing charges and suggested officials focus on regulating New York’s bicyclists to prevent similar accidents.
“All cyclists who are operating as commercial riders should be registered with the city and carry some sort of permit that can be revoked if they do not comply with common sense safety measures,” he said.
