A London cab driver, dragged from his taxi and beaten to death by a customer, is being remembered as a well liked, happy go-lucky guy.
Vijay Bhatia, 64, was attacked in the parking lot of the Mac's Milk at 925 Wonderland Rd. S around 1am on Saturday. Bhatia had driven two customers to that location where one violently assaulted him, according to police.
The more than 20-year veteran of the taxi industry was found without vital signs and was pronounced dead in hospital.
"I was in a daze all Saturday. It's surreal. I have a hard time believing he is gone," said Jason Kukurudziak, owner of Blue and White taxi, the company Bhatia was driving for when he was attacked. "It was just a normal trip that he was on and at the end of it, it went sideways."
Kukurudziak noted Bhatia had an upstanding reputation within the community and the taxi industry.
"He was a very kind and gentle soul. I never heard any complaints from him. He was loved by his customers," said Kukurudziak. "[Bhatia] was very involved in the taxi industry. He was well known, it didn't matter which fleet you were on, you knew who Vijay was."
Cody Perkin, 23, of London has been charged with second-degree murder in Bhatia's death. Perkins is also charged with assault and uttering threats in relation to a separate victim, who sustained minor injuries that didn't require medical treatment. He is still being held in custody.
Kukurudziak provided police with footage of the attack from the interior video camera in Bhatia's taxi.
"We got clear images of who did this," said Kukurudziak, who tried not to look at the video's content, but wanted to make sure police obtained the highest quality footage.
The horrific attack reinforces the need for security cameras in all vehicles for hire in the city, according to Kukurudziak.
"If this guy got away, then the pictures would have helped get the word out. A picture is better than eyewitness testimony," said Kukurudziak. "If you're going to be in this business doing rides for hire, doesn't matter if you are taxi, limo or Uber, you should feel protected in knowing that there is a camera there to keep you safe."
In February, city council passed a bylaw that allows Uber drivers to operate in London without camera systems.
"You don't know who you are going to get in your car. They aren't your best buddy that you are driving around. They are just a person who has called up for a ride. So having that camera there gives you that peace of mind that, if something was to happen, the person responsible will be caught or it deters people from doing bad things all together," said Kukurudziak.
Donations and cards of condolences for Bhatia's family are being accepted at Blue and White Taxi's head office located at 555 York St., Unit 101.
