The FDNY said the crash happened shortly after 3 p.m. at East 57th Street and Madison Avenue.
After an investigation, police say it appeared that an 86-year-old man driving a U-Haul minivan was traveling westbound on East 57th Street when he rear-ended a yellow taxicab, mid block.
The driver then reversed and struck a Toyota sedan with a passenger in the back seat.
The 86-year-old driver then proceeded to drive forward on the sidewalk, striking structures such as a mailbox, a LinkNYCkiosk, a fire hydrant, and a bus sign.
The bus sign tipped over and struck a 33-year-old woman who was walking on the sidewalk.
The 86-year-old man, the 51-year-old cab driver, the 33-year-old woman struck by the bus sign, and the passenger in the Toyota were taken to the hospital where they are all expected to survive.
It's not clear why the van lost control.
The investigation is ongoing.
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