Police: Man Crashed Yellow Cab In New Jersey After Manhattan Carjacking

LEONIA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Texas man allegedly stole a yellow cab in Manhattan Monday morning before leading police on a chase that ended on the other side of the Hudson.

Brian Charles Ambrose, 40, of Ingleside, Texas, is accused of punching a taxi driver in the face on Eighth Avenue and West 23rd Street around 7:30 a.m. before allegedly taking off with the cab.

Police then used the vehicle's GPS to track it across the West Side Highway, over the George Washington Bridge and into Leonia, N.J.

Leonia Police Lt. Thomas Rowe said the driver jumped the sidewalk before crashing, leaving the cab wedged between a traffic signal and supermarket on Broad Avenue near a school.

"This could've been a horrific event because that is our busiest intersection in our town and that's where every day several hundred elementary school children cross," Rowe. "This occurred at 8:20 in our town, if this was at 8:30 there's no question in my mind there would've been several kids and parents that would've been run over by this vehicle."

The suspect tried to flee on foot but was tackled by officers and arrested, Rowe said. Ambrose will be charged with aggregated assault, resisting arrest and eluding police, and will also face carjacking charges in New York, officials said.

At least two officers suffered minor injuries.

The cab driver was treated at Bellevue Hospital and released.