Taxi driver with suspended license charged in Middletown crash
Police say 37-year-old Curt Mead was driving with a suspended license, didn't have a required taxi license and may have been under the influence of narcotics when he crossed into oncoming traffic on North Street.
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A Middletown taxi driver is facing charges after police say he crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into another vehicle Saturday on North Street while driving with a suspended license and possibly under the influence of narcotics.
Police say the driver, 37-year-old Curt Mead of Middletown, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation and operating without a City of Middletown taxi operator’s license, commonly known as a hack license.
Based on preliminary findings, police say Mead may have nodded off and may have been under the influence of narcotics before the crash.
Police say Mead was driving on North Street when he crossed into the oncoming lane and struck a red Acura head-on.
Viewer video obtained by News 12 shows the Syndicate taxi with heavy front-end damage as police, firefighters and EMS crews responded to the scene.
Police say Mead was operating the cab with a suspended license and without a taxi operator’s license. He was also issued traffic tickets for unlicensed operation and unsafe tires.
The driver of the Acura and a passenger in the taxi both suffered neck and back injuries and were taken to Garnet Health Medical Center. Police said the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
News 12 spoke with Amar Singh, the owner of the taxi involved in the crash. Singh said Mead was not supposed to be driving the vehicle and was not scheduled to work that day. He said Mead is the brother of the driver who was supposed to be operating the cab and had previously worked for him but was fired due to prior issues.
Singh said the taxi was totaled in the crash.
Investigators say the case remains under investigation, with additional charges related to driving while ability impaired by drugs pending the results of laboratory testing on Mead’s blood.
