Taxi drivers on edge after driver stabbed, robbed near Los Banos

MERCED COUNTY (KFSN) -- In the North Valley, police are searching for the suspects who robbed and stabbed a taxi driver near Los Banos.

The Merced County Sheriff's Office confirmed the victim was airlifted to a Modesto hospital for his injuries and nearby taxi companies in Merced said this is something they fear in their business and hope the suspects are caught before they strike again.

Merced sheriff's deputies found the victim just outside Los Banos city limits. On a road near Highway 165, a taxi driver who had been robbed and stabbed several times early Thursday morning. The department releasing a post on the Merced Sheriff's Investigation page stating that detectives are looking for two suspects involved.

Ron Drennan, owner of Merced Taxi Cab Company, said while this is sad it, unfortunately, doesn't come as a shock. Last year, one of his drivers was shot and killed in his taxi cab during an overnight night. Some of his other drivers have also been in dangerous situations.

"We've had several people robbed," he said. "We had two people robbed at knife point. Biggest amount was $35. We had one guy robbed and thrown in the trunk for four hours."

Drennan said he keeps radios in his cars to make sure drivers are in constant communication. He also said the drivers never carry a large amount of cash.

However, Drennan said the problem doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

"We don't know where we're going," Drennan said. "We don't know who were picking up."

Police leads are being investigated by detectives and Drennan said he hopes the suspects are caught soon.

"It's a taxi business and it's important to catch these guys cause the next company they go after maybe me or could be anybody down the street," he explained.

The suspects are described as two thin, Hispanic males, about 5-foot-9 with short to medium black hair. Anyone with any information about this incident is encouraged to call the Merced County Sheriff's Office.