Cab Driver Survives Brutal Albany-Area Knife Attack

A 20-year veteran cab driver survived a vicious knife attack in Colonie in the Albany Capital Region after an assailant allegedly tried to slash his throat, stabbed him in the chest and stole his taxi, triggering an intensive police manhunt.

“This was a gruesome, brutal, bloody attack and the victim is lucky to be alive,” Colonie Police Chief James Gerace said at a Thursday press conference.

Police identified the suspect as Jonathan A. Tejada, 32, of Scotia. Tejada allegedly called for an Electric City Taxi to pick him up at a Motel 6 at about 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Gerace said Tejada allegedly put a folding knife to the driver’s throat and “went for a deadly kill stroke across his throat.”

The driver protected himself but suffered severe injuries to his face and defensive wounds to his hands and arms. Gerace said the attacker then went over the seat and stabbed the cabbie in the chest.

Despite his injuries, the driver escaped and made his way to the Motel 6, where he received help.

“He’s lucky to be alive,” Gerace said.

Tejada allegedly stole the taxi, later crashing it on Interstate 890 in Schenectady before fleeing on foot. Gerace said witness accounts indicated Tejada had been using cocaine prior to the attack. Investigators recovered a knife from the blood-covered taxi.

Gerace described Tejada’s criminal history as “unremarkable,” with “nothing to suggest such an assault of this magnitude.” He said witnesses reported Tejada had bragged about wanting to rob and murder a cab driver and flee the area.

Following an intensive manhunt, Tejada was arrested Wednesday afternoon. He faces charges including attempted murder, robbery, assault, grand larceny and criminal possession of a weapon.

“A violent criminal was removed from our streets,” Gerace said.