• Home
  • Lost and Found
  • Book a Ride
Toll Free: +1-866-917-TAXI    

Cash-strapped veteran cab driver hangs himself in his Queens garage

Posted by NYCYellowCabTaxi.com on March 26, 2018

A Queens cabbie who drove a yellow taxi for three decades hanged himself in his garage after suffering massive financial woes in the era of Uber, officials and friends said Wednesday.

Nicanor Ochisor, 65, was found hanging from a wooden beam in his garage on 58th Road near 69th Lane in Maspeth Friday morning, police said.

Taxi advocates quickly blamed the Romanian immigrant’s suicide on the glut of drivers working for app-driven, for-hire companies like Uber and Lyft taking money from medallion drivers.

“He could no longer bear the strain of the impending loss of everything he had worked for in his life in America,” the Taxi Medallion Owner and Driver Association said in a statement.

The organization pointed out that in 2014, medallions were selling for more than $1 million. Now, the value has dropped to about $175,000.

The group said Ochisor is the fourth cab driver, and first medallion owner, to take his own life over the last few months.

“We have been begging the mayor and the Taxi and Limousine Commission to act, and all we have gotten is either lip service or meaningless gestures that don’t get to the root of the problem: There are way too many cars on the streets,” taxi industry group spokesman Nino Hervias said.

TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi said the agency was “deeply distressed” by Ochisor’s death.

“To all that he has left behind, his family, friends and his brothers and sisters in the industry, our heartfelt condolences — we mourn with you,” Joshi said.

Ochisor had his medallion for nearly 30 years after purchasing it in 1989, officials said. He never rented out his medallion, but shared the driving duties with his wife, longtime friend Dan Nitescu said.

“His wife was driving in the morning, he was driving in the afternoon to midnight,” said Nitescu, 64. “Since Uber came to town … the whole taxi business was almost destroyed. The medallion value went to almost zero.”

As the price of a taxi medallion continued to tumble, Ochisor “got into a deep depression,” Nitescu said.

“He was telling me all the time that the value of the medallion is not going to be like it used to be anymore, ever,” he said. “Now, he told me, for the last six, seven months that whatever he makes together with his wife, he was making by himself alone, before the Uber.

“He’s gotta pay his mortgage on the medallion,” Nitescu added. “He was making the payments, but it was very hard. He struggled himself. It was bothering him all the time.”

Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) has proposed a bill that would more tightly regulate the online for-hire industry.

The bill would establish an annual $2,000 fee on each vehicle, and any new services would have to do an environmental study. It would cap the number of vehicles per base at 250. Currently any Uber driver can respond to a call from any Uber base.

You may also like

  • Taxi king Evgeny Freidman was evicted from his space for not paying rentTaxi king Evgeny Freidman was evicted from his space for not paying rent
  • Williamsburg Brooklyn Car ServiceWilliamsburg Brooklyn Car Service
  • A Judge Blocked the Taxi King’s Abandonment of Citibank CabsA Judge Blocked the Taxi King’s Abandonment of Citibank Cabs
  • Sikh Cabbie Says Passengers Attacked Him, Ripped Turban off His HeadSikh Cabbie Says Passengers Attacked Him, Ripped Turban off His Head
  • Fed-up taxi industry threatens to yank wheelchair-accessible cabsFed-up taxi industry threatens to yank wheelchair-accessible cabs

6 thoughts on “Cash-strapped veteran cab driver hangs himself in his Queens garage”

  1. Martindoups on April 24, 2018 at 10:05 pm said:

    Hi All im newbie here. Good art! Thx! Thx!

  2. Buffalo Taxi on April 30, 2018 at 2:19 am said:

    It is very sad situation, thank you for sharing this. I am deeply saddened by the news. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and your family. In my opinion, since I am driving my own taxi. Uber and other App transport business are not affecting my business. I develop my own regular clients, and yeah there are huge demands for taxi service that we don’t have to worry for anything. It’s a healthy competition on transport business.

  3. Tampa Taxi on May 18, 2018 at 12:08 am said:

    Our hearts go out to the wife and your family. Although we don’t know exactly what to say, we want the family to know that we are with you in thought and wish you comfort and peace as you remember Nicanor Ochiso.

  4. Buffalo Express Taxi on May 18, 2018 at 12:11 am said:

    Our heart aches for you and your family during this time. Our condolences.

  5. Phil Mccracken on May 30, 2018 at 2:01 am said:

    Why kill yourself over money?

  6. dan anton on November 25, 2018 at 3:55 am said:

    MANY TOURISTS TOLD ME THEY LIKE NEW -YORK,BECAUSE OF FRIENDLY TAXI DRIVERS, THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE!
    YELLOW CABS IN NYC IT IS ,AND IT WAS A “STATE OF MIND”…..
    UNFORTUNATLY SOMEBODY,FROM THEYRS HATE OF HARDS WANTED TO KILL IT!
    THEY KILLED THIS FREE PR OF NEW YORK!
    GOOD NIGHT SMALL BUSINESS,…GOOD MORNING ,…BIG CORPORATIONS!!
    THE SOCIAL STATE FOR …CORPORATIONS!
    ANY COOMENTS ? CALL ME AT 929 435 1456 DANY

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Drivers Lounge

Previous Next All

Christopher B.: Thanks

Ali youcef: Hello , l am looking for day shift partner anybody interested call me to 2014668506

Jhon Doe: Uber was allowed to operate in NYC because technically was a car service company not a taxi,but now they want cab crivers to accept uber requests, it was a plan for the very beginning and we all knoe the master of it,I have been driving for 30 years and do not need help finding my fares.

Salaheldin: I’m looking for 2021hybrid yellowcab for weekly or day shift lease

1 (718) 210-7378: Toyota Prius day shift available in Jamaica by Liberty Avenue and Vanwyck. Lease $400 shift 5am-5pm Car Pick and drop at my location. If anyone interested text to 1 (718) 210-7378 1 (718) 210-7378

Mr T: Looking to buy wave van let me know if anyone selling

Sultan mehmood: I need job sir I am working in Dubai as a texi driver 4 years +971586597209

I am henok: My name is henok I am 24 years old active driver and any one can dm me on watsapp +251931539562

ali Kondakci: Hello I need 12 hrs working shift Bensonhurst Brooklyn bath ave 11214 please call me please my name is ali. Kondakci 6464911840

Rashid: i have one Y cab . now i looking a driver for weekly rented brand new car RV4 2021. if any parsons interested send tax massage. 347-9357005

Gaby: I am looking for drivers who wants to lease a medalion ! And i sponsor any lady who likes to be a NYC yellow cab driver! call 929-435-1456

Mahesh: Dear sir I would like to requesting for light driver job please if you have any vacancies let me know I have uae driving licence manual with 3 years experience if have a vacancy let me know..my contact number: +971523505342.+971501516306. Thanks and best regards Mahesh

Davidson Garrett: I’m a retired yellow taxi driver who drove for forty years. I’m a poet and I have a new poetry book titled: “Cabaletta: Poems of a New York City Taxi Driver” published by Finishing Line Press. You can pre-order the book until November. Release date is January 14, 2022. Click the link for info. https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/cabaletta-poems-of-a-new-york-city-taxi-driver-by-davidson-garrett/

Frantzy Civil: I’m looking to drive for a taxi company I have been doing Uber delivery, door dash and roadie for many, many months now.., some of them for years and I know my way around NYC and other states.

Fritzie Pierre Louis: How is A Pay Bills Receipt My Paper Station Taxi A Rides Information ?

Nam Phan: I want to be driver, what is the cost to rent the car?

Muhammad Rao: I want to buy Medelion please call 646-639-5899

Adrienne Zernich: Waiting in line for over an hour at LGA airport. It’s not a holiday and there are literally no taxis. You wonder why every calls Uber and Lyft.

Jamir: On 7/31/2021 I took a yellow cab from Dover and south street to pier 15. The driver was very friendly and asked where I was from and wanted to know if I had a girlfriend for him. I was wearing a lime green shirt African American. Please reach me if you find my keys. 201-892-4060.

Evelyne: 917 348 4526 Hello we left our shopping bags in the trunk can you pls call us? The driver from Pakistan picked us on 112 and dropped us on 53rd street (Fogonde Chao restaurant)

»




Navigation

  • NYC Taxi Lost and Found
  • Reserve NYC Taxi
  • NYC Taxi Phone Number
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact

Information

  • NYC Taxi Medallions for Sale
  • Drivers Wanted
  • New York Car Service
  • Brooklyn Car Service
  • Refund Request

Other

  • New York
  • Brooklyn
  • New York Airports
  • JFK Airport
  • LGA Airport

Footer Logo


Call: +1-866-917-8294

© 2007-2025, NYCYellowCabTaxi.com ™. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Services | Disclaimer
Yellow NYC Taxi Lost and Found Service helps increase your chances of recovering your lost property that was left behind in a taxi cab. YellowNYCTaxi.com is a private blog about New York City Yellow Cab Taxis and is not affiliated with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. Individual results may vary