Bicyclist struck and killed by livery cab in East Harlem; driver in custody

EAST HARLEM, N.Y. (WABC) -- Friends are mourning a man who was struck and killed by a livery cab Monday morning in East Harlem while he was riding a bicycle.

The victim, 25-year-old Jerrison Garcia, of Washington Heights, was hit by the cab as it was making a left turn at Park Avenue and East 108th Street..

Garcia suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

The driver of the cab, 65-year-old Nojeem Odunfa, was taken into custody. He is charged with aggravated unlicensed operator, motor vehicle license violation: no license, right of way violation: left turn and failure to exercise due care. The district attorney confirms that higher charges are likely.

"I want justice," said Garcia's brother, Nelson. "I want to see him locked up."

The TLC said the vehicle involved in the accident is licensed to a legitimate livery cab company, Glory Car and Limo in the Bronx, but Odunfa has never been licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

The TLC is investigating how and why Odunfa was behind the wheel.

"I lost a friend due to somebody who was driving without a license," said Marcel Feliz, a friend.

Friends set up a memorial outside Garcia's Washington Heights home Tuesday night, promising to keep attention on the case.

"I work with him, so me having to go to work and not see him, it breaks my heart, said friend Adderly Bello. "It's really sad situation. I feel so sorry for his mother."