Taxi driver with suspended license hits, kills pedestrian in Huntington Station, police say

A taxi driver operating with a suspended license struck and killed a pedestrian Sunday night on Depot Road in Huntington Station, police said.

Suffolk County police identified the victim as Raymond Sipel, 30, of Huntington. Police said Sipel was running eastbound across Depot Road when he was struck by a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria taxi being driven southbound on Depot.

The accident occurred at 10:45 p.m., police said.

Sipel died at the scene.

Police said the cabdriver, Christian Lopez-Barcelo, 31, of 8th Avenue, Huntington Station, was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Lopez-Barcelo, who was driving for the Orange and White Taxi Company, was released on an appearance ticket.

A woman who answered the phone at Orange and White Taxi Monday morning said no one was available for comment.

Police said Lopez-Barcelo was taken to Huntington Hospital, where he was treated for "stress-related symptoms" and released. The taxicab was impounded for a safety check.

The investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone with information regarding the crash to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”