Pedestrian, driver hurt when cab strikes house in West Philadelphia, officials say

Two people were hurt Tuesday evening when a taxi struck a pedestrian and then a house in West Philadelphia, police said.

Police believe the SUV taxi driver had a medical emergency that caused him to accelerate the car before it hit a woman and then crashed into a gray house at the intersection of Lansdowne Avenue and 56th Street, Inspector D F Pace said. 

The woman was taken to the hospital and is listed in stable condition. The driver, a 76-year-old man, was taken to the hospital and is listed in critical condition, Pace said.

The crash happened around 6:30 p.m., Pace said. Officers who were on patrol nearby heard the crash and rushed to the scene, he said.

Police do not believe the cab was carrying any passengers at the time of the crash.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections responded to the scene and condemned the house, which sustained considerable damage. Utility companies have also shut off utilities to the house because of the crash, Pace said. 

Police were on the scene when Chopper 3 was overhead around 7 p.m.

Police are investigating the crash.