(The headline as published has been corrected in this text.)
A traffic dispute on Chicago’s Near North Side boiled over early Tuesday, leaving one cabdriver in critical condition with a fractured skull as another chased the alleged offender for several blocks and ended up accidentally striking the man in the leg with his cab.
Police said it appears some traffic dispute sparked the altercation between Robert Quagliato, 65, and cabdriver Jaweed Mohammed about 1:30 a.m. as the two drove in separate cars near Oak and State Streets. After pulling to the side of the road at 1030 N. State St., the men got out of the vehicles and Quagliato allegedly struck Mohammed, knocking him to the ground.
According to police, as Quagliato jumped back into his car to drive off, another cabdriver, Tauseef Khan, who had apparently seen the fight, gave chase, using a cell phone to call police and give officers the location of Quagliato’s car.
Near Chicago and State Streets, Quagliato allegedly got out of his car and approached Khan’s cab. After Quagliato grabbed the cab’s mirror, Khan reversed to take off, causing Quagliato to bump against the cab and slightly injure his leg, said police spokesman Robert Cargie.
Police said they caught up with Quagliato about five blocks away, at 308 W. Erie St., and arrested him. He was later released from police custody without having been charged (this sentence has been added to this text).
Quagliato complained about his leg and was taken to Grant Hospital, where he was treated and released (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text).
(The erroneous seventh paragraph of this story as published has been deleted in this text.)
Mohammed was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he remained Tuesday night in critical condition with a head injury.
Cargie said Kahn was not expected to be charged.
