Friends mourn death of Auburn cab driver killed in early morning crash
AUBURN -- As people went about their business in downtown auburn Friday morning, some of them witnessed an unexpected tragedy when a cab was struck and an SUV flipped upside down in the middle of the intersection at East Main Street and Auburn Way.
Cab driver Brian Love, 56, was killed instantly after he was struck broadside by the SUV just before 6 a.m. Police said the SUV driver ran a red light at high speed, slammed into the cab, flipped his vehicle and then tried to flee the scene, leaving his injured female passenger behind.
“We have detained the driver of the vehicle and obtained search warrants for some additional evidence from him. From what we can tell so far, there is possible impairment,” Auburn assistant police chief Bill Pierson said.
Vince Cuddy owns Tim’s Taxi Company and said Love was on his way to drop off his cab when the crash happened.
“Brian used to be a DJ in Enumclaw, he peddled ice cream. He owned the pizza place here before it got torn down and then he became a taxi driver, and he really enjoyed his job,” Cuddy said.
The SUV driver and female passenger are in their 20s. They are at Auburn General Hospital with minor injuries. The driver is facing vehicular homicide and reckless driving charges.