The driver was probably African. They drive like bats out of hell, and in addition, the photo on the hack license looks nothing like the person actually driving your cab. One of my most terrifying rides in New York was with an African driver who went berserk, ran every light up Madison, was going about 60 - and wouldn't stop when we told him to stop. Finally he reached traffic he couldn't get around and we threw money on the front seat, opened the door, got out and ran for our lives.
Yup. Most of them here in Columbus are Sub-Saharan.
Sounds like my first trip to Philadelphia... the cabby scared the crap out of me. Fortunately it was a short visit and the locals from my company handled the rest of the transport.
Then there was the time that three of us took a trip to Phili... all was well untl the ride to the airport. The driver understood "airport", but couldn't comprehend Terminal "A", "B", and so forth. We had to make a second pass into the airport entrance, pointing out the exit for him so we could make our flight. I don't miss traveling at all.