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Three Women Struck by a Taxi Outside SoHo Eatery

By DNAinfo Staff on November 15, 2010 9:31am  | Updated on November 15, 2010 2:04pm

Orange cones stood in the place of the glass doorway that was smashed when a taxi cab drove into Café Habana on Sunday evening.
Orange cones stood in the place of the glass doorway that was smashed when a taxi cab drove into Café Habana on Sunday evening.
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DNAinfo/Jennifer Glickel

By Jennifer Glickel

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

SOHO — A taxi jumped the curb and crashed into a SoHo eatery, injuring three women on Sunday evening.

The accident occured at Café Habana at Prince and Elizabeth Streets about 5:45 p.m., according to restaurant employees who were inside at the time.

The incident involved the taxi, which was driving northbound on Elizabeth Street, and a black sedan traveling westbound on Prince Street, though it was unclear to witnesses exactly which car was at fault for causing the crash.

"There was a loud bang and a lot of screaming," said the restaurant's manager Janiela Roachford, 25. "Everyone inside was really scared and completely shocked."

Roachford two women who were standing in the restaurant's entryway waiting for tables were injured and a female passenger in the backseat of the taxi was also hurt. All three of them were taken to Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries.

Signs directed patrons of Café Habana to the restaurant's side entrance on Monday morning.
Signs directed patrons of Café Habana to the restaurant's side entrance on Monday morning.
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DNAinfo/Jennifer Glickel

The cab slammed head first into the restaurant's front entryway, shattering one of the two exterior glass doors and its frame, according to Leslie Meenan, 41, who co-owns the restaurant with her brother.

One of the women who was standing in the entryway was pinned between the cab and the restaurant's inner front door. The victim appeared to be in shock and screamed frantically until EMS workers could calm her down, according to witnesses.

"The girl who was stuck between the restaurant and the cab was definitely the scariest part of the whole thing," said Café Habana bartender John Reagan, 26. "She was pretty hysterical, but eventually calmed down."

Waitress Susan Maris, 29, said that she was terrified by the victim's screaming.

"I thought she was mortally wounded from her screaming," Maris told DNAinfo. "We just kind of all thought someone had died or was going to die, so it could have been a lot worse."

The restaurant was open for business on Monday morning, although signs were posted at the front entrance directing patrons to enter through the side door.

Police did not issue the taxi driver any summonses.

A taxi crashed into a hip SoHo restaurant on Sunday evening.
A taxi crashed into a hip SoHo restaurant on Sunday evening.
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Spencer Platt/Getty Images