Driver Who Killed Man, Injured Woman in Manhattan Worked for Uber: Police

The SUV driver who struck and killed a 27-year-old man and injured a 30-year-old woman as they crossed a Manhattan street over the weekend was working for Uber at the time of the crash, authorities say.

The Uber driver hit the two pedestrians as they crossed East 62nd Street between Lexington and Third avenues shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday. The man, identified as Wesley Mensing of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, was pronounced dead at a hospital and the woman was treated for a serious head injury; she's expected to survive.

The driver stayed at the scene and was issued a summons for unlicensed operation of a vehicle after police ran his credentials and found his driver's license had either been expired or revoked. The summons, apparently prompted by a registration issue, was later dismissed, according to DMV records. He was not charged in connection with the crash.

According to Uber, the driver is affiliated with Uber NYC through its Schmecken base as an UberBLACK partner and is commercially licensed by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Uber says the driver had accepted a trip and was en route to pick up customers at the time of the crash. He had no passengers in the car. The company says he has completed nearly 1,300 trips on the Uber platform and has a 4.86 out of 5 star rating. Uber says his access to its platform has been suspended.

In a statement, Uber said it is cooperating fully with the NYPD.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those involved in this tragic accident," the company said.  

Mensing was a New Jersey golf instructor who worked at the Plainfield Country Club in Edison. He was listed as one of the "best young teachers in America" in the November edition of Golf Digest. 

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