Cabbie crashes into church with 5 locked inside

[August 10, 2009]  MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (AP) -- A Mount Vernon cab driver told police that a passenger had tried to rob and choke him, causing him to crash his car into a storefront church.

Authorities then found another situation in the church. They discovered four adults and a 3-year-old girl locked inside.

Police said it looked as if the people had been living there, because the area was covered with makeshift beds and there was a cooking area.

The five people were taken to Mount Vernon Hospital as a precaution. Authorities are investigating how the people got there as well as the cab driver's account of bring robbed.

The Buildings Department will board up the church.

___

Information from: The Journal News, http://www.thejournalnews.com/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.