Long Island police arrested a homeless sex offender after the say he sexually assaulted a female taxi driver.
The alleged sexual assault happened Tuesday around 7:40 p.m. after the cabbie picked up the man at John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson.
At some point during the trip, 34-year-old Francis Barrios sexually assaulted the cabbie, causing her to lose control of the taxi, which crashed into a fence on Mount Sinai-Coram Road in Mount Sinai, according to police.
Barrios continued to assault the driver after the taxi had crashed, police said.
A passing motorist who saw the crashed vehicle called police and further investigation led officers to believe that Barrios had sexually assaulted the driver.
Barrios has been charged with a number of offenses, including engaging in a criminal sex act, attempted rape, strangulation and assault. He is a registered sex offender.
Police held Barrios overnight at the Sixth Precinct for arraignment Wednesday.
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The name of the cab company is not being released to protect the victim’s identity.
