Assaulted Vets Cab driver may have permanent loss of vision, says union

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The Windsor taxi driver who was the victim of an unprovoked attack last weekend suffered eye damage so severe it may be permanent, says Unifor Local 195.

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“Two surgeries, so far,” said Emile Nabbout, president of Unifor Local 195, which represents approximately 350 drivers for Veteran Cab.

Recovery of vision remains in question, Nabbout said. “One of the eyes, he cannot see with at all. The other one is blurry.”

Nabbout said the incident has heightened the safety concerns of Unifor Local 195 taxi drivers. A membership meeting was held on Monday night.

“This is not the first time our drivers have been subject to some type of violence,” Nabbout noted. “Unknown violence. We don’t know the reason.”

Veteran Cab vehicles are equipped with protective features such as partitions, video cameras, and audio recording devices.

But they weren’t enough in this case. “This was unprovoked. There was no conversation or altercation with anybody,” Nabbout said. “Don’t motivate.”

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Nabbout said the victim has been a Windsor taxi driver for about a year.

Police are continuing to investigate the assault, which occurred on the night of March 12 around 9:30 pm on Erie Street West between Ouellette Avenue and Victoria Avenue.

The adult male cabbie had stopped at the side of the street after hearing what sounded like an object strike his vehicle.

While the taxi was parked, an unknown male suspect approached and violently broke the vehicle’s driver’s side window.

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“It shattered and (the pieces) hit the driver in both eyes,” Nabbout said.

There is little information about who might be responsible. Before the attack occurred, the victim saw two males walking in the area—one white, the other possibly black.

The white male suspect has been described as about five-foot-10 in height, appearing to be in his mid-20s, and dressed in a black track suit. He had short, black hair.

Windsor police have since determined that two vehicles were in the area at the time of the incident — one a white four-door sedan, the other a dark-colored four-door sport SUV.

These vehicles are not considered suspect vehicles, but investigators are hoping their occupants witnessed something that could help the investigation.

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Anyone with information or potential video evidence pertaining to this case is encouraged to contact the Major Crime Unit at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830.

Anonymous tips can be made via Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or catchcrooks.com.

Nabbout said his members deserve to be able to work without fear for their well-being. “They don’t anticipate something like this can happen to them when they go to work and try to earn a paycheque to support their families.”

“Yes, there is a risk associated with this type of business. But our drivers continue to serve the community — the way they have always been.”