Vicious attack on taxi driver

Paramedics treat the taxi driver bashed up by a man who had earlier kicked his cab as he was driving along a narrow street in Kingsland. Photo / Natalie Slade

An Auckland taxi driver was in hospital with a broken leg last night after being dragged from his cab and attacked.

Ambulance staff found the man unconscious under a tree about 50m from his taxi.

He had been dragged from the driver's seat and knocked in the head, leaving him with a mouthful of blood, said Detective Sergeant Rick Veacock.

He also suffered a broken leg and police said late last night that he might also have a broken ankle.

The attack happened shortly before 8pm in a car park on the corner of Central Rd and Fourth Ave in Kingsland.

Co-Op Taxis general manager Barrie White said the driver was traumatised by the attack, which happened while he was driving through a narrow street.

"[The offender] has just kicked his car while he's going down this narrow road and unfortunately he's stopped to say, 'Why have you kicked my car?' And then he's unfortunately copped the kicking."

Mr White said the driver - aged in his 40s - had been with the taxi co-operative for "a while", but he was unsure how many years he had been a cabbie.

He said he understood the driver was not in a critical condition, but was very traumatised and upset after the ordeal.

Despite being badly hurt, the man managed to call for help and another taxi driver arrived at the scene shortly afterwards to help him.

"We haven't had an incident this bad in a while," Mr White said.

"Our thoughts are with the driver."

The offender was a Maori or Pacific Island male wearing a blue and white striped T-shirt and sunglasses.

He was last seen running towards St Lukes down a cycleway beside the Northwestern Motorway.

Anyone with information about the attack can call the Crimestoppers line on 0800-555-111 or their nearest police station.