Cab Driver Attacked By Man Enraged He Was In Crosswalk: NYPD

CHELSEA, NY — The amateur hockey player who struck a cab driver in the head with a hockey stick on Saturday began arguing with the driver over a traffic dispute, according to police. The driver was pronounced dead shortly after he crashed his car following the fight.

Authorities say that on Saturday night Kohji Kosugi was walking near the Chelsea Piers when he struck Randolpf Tolk, a livery cab driver, in the head during an argument. An NYPD spokesman told Patch that authorities believe the dispute began when Tolk’s car was blocking part of the crosswalk as Kosugi, 39, was trying to cross the street. While Tolk, 68, was stopped at the intersection of Eleventh Avenue and 20th Street, Kosugi is believed to have hit the side of the car with his stick before Tolk got out of the car and the fight became physical, police said. Kosugi struck Tolk at least once in the head with the hockey stick before running away.

Tolk got back in his car and continued driving south down Eleventh Avenue before crashing into a divider on West Street near Horatio Street. Emergency responders arrived at the scene of the crash at about 11:58 p.m. on Saturday. Tolk was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

It’s unclear whether Tolk died from the blow to his head or the car crash. The city’s medical examiner’s office will determine his cause of death.

Hours later, officers arrested Kosugi and charged him with manslaughter. He was arraigned on Monday afternoon and is being held in jail on a $500,000 cash bail. Kosugi’s defense attorney did not immediately respond to an email from Patch seeking comment.

Tolk also worked as a driver for Uber, the company said on Sunday. He was not logged into the app at the time of the fight or the crash, Uber said.

Image credit: Google Maps