Traffic Gets Physical

When a vehicle runs a red light in the city, it's probably best to just let the police handle it. A 58-year-old woman learned this the hard way on Monday, March 18 as she was crossing Fifth Ave. and E. 96th Street. She reported to police that a black Chevy Suburban with NY plates ran a red light and almost hit her. But, as the vehicle passed her, she reportedly swung her grocery bag at the driver, causing the driver, a black man in his 40s, to stop, exit his vehicle and approach the woman. After exchanging some unpleasant words with the driver, the woman told police the man punched her in the face with a closed fist, causing her to fall to the ground. She said the man then fled the scene. The woman provided police with the vehicle's plate number. Police reported they tracked the plate number and it came back with the registered owner's name. Police are looking for the driver, a black man approximately 5'11" in his 40s.