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Medical Condition May Have Triggered Horrific San Francisco Cab Crash

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A taxi driver who injured two pedestrians when he crashed into a bathroom, newsstand and shoeshine stand in San Francisco's Financial District may have suffered a medical issue just prior to the crash, police said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the driver has been released from the hospital while two men struck by the vehicle remained hospitalized Wednesday.

San Francisco General Hospital spokesman Brent Andrew said a 66-year-old man hit by the taxi is in fair condition and a 40-year-man remains in critical condition.

While the cause of the crash remained under investigation, police said it appears the driver may have suffered a medical issue before he hit the gas and plowed onto the sidewalk.

The horrific crash happened at the intersection of Market and Sutter streets near Sansome Street at about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday when the cab jumped the curb and smashed into a newspaper kiosk and a shoe-shine stand on the corner.

Scene of taxi cab crash in San Francisco Financial District - at least 3 critically hurt at Sansome/Sutter/Market. Read more: http://cbsloc.al/2bEbnM7

Posted by KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Pictures from the scene showed the Yellow cab crashed through the kiosk and a shoe-shine stand before coming to a stop feet away from the BART/Muni elevator.

The two victims hit by the cab were later identified as men who worked at the shoe-shine stand.

"The old man went flying up into the air," a woman who runs a nearby stand said.

The old man the witness described was Mohammed Salim, a longtime staple of San Francisco's downtown. His shoe shine partner "Jazz" was also injured.

"Jazz was bleeding from his face and stuff, from his head," another witness said.

With every airbag deployed in the Ford taxicab, the driver crawled from the wreck.

"He walked a few steps, then he went to his hands and knees, and then laid on his back, and then someone else came over and appeared to be performing CPR," said KPIX 5 Political Analyst Melissa Caen, who witnessed the aftermath.

The driver allegedly told witness Rita Tripp he was on the phone when the crash occurred.

"He told me he was on the phone, with his friend," Tripp said.

Fellow shoe shiner Larry Moore spoke fondly of the injured Salim.

"Been here for ten years, wonderful guy. It's a shame that happened to him," Moore told KPIX 5.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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