Cabbies Start Fund for Burned Woman Driver

Fellow cabbies have established a fund to aid Mary Clarke, the Gardena taxi driver who was robbed and set afire by two passengers Thursday.

“Traditionally, when something happens to one cab driver, we all put something in the hat to try to help,” said Tooraj Moradi, vice president of the AM-PM Taxi Co., which had hired Clarke only a month ago. “But this is different; the dimensions of the tragedy are broader.”

Moradi said he had received many calls from cabbies at AM-PM and other taxi companies, as well as private citizens, and Frank Filosa, president of the Taxi Industry Council and the United Independent Taxi Assn. of Los Angeles, said the industry itself wanted to assist the woman in some way.

Clarke, a divorced mother of three who had worked for two other Los Angeles taxi firms for a total of about three years, was listed as improving but still in critical condition Friday at Torrance Memorial Hospital Medical Center. She suffered second- and third-degree burns to her upper body and face after being pushed from her cab, doused with a flammable liquid and ignited.

Clarke’s son, Kyle Hudnall, 21, said his mother was alert but unable to speak Friday, and sheriff’s detectives said they had not been able to interview her.

Donations may be sent to the Mary Clarke Fund, c/o AM-PM Taxi, 15321 S. Figueroa St., Gardena, 90248.