‘Don’t touch me’: Ugly altercation breaks out between taxi driver and passenger over $80 fee

Shocked onlookers have defended a fed-up taxi driver, after he was filmed pushing a female passenger and leaving her on the side of the road over a cab fare dispute.

Shocked Sydneysiders have defended the actions of a fed-up taxi driver, after he was filmed pushing a female passenger and leaving her on the side of the road over an unpaid cab fare dispute.

Disturbing footage circulating online has captured the ugly two minute ordeal which took place on a busy Rhodes street, in Sydney’s inner west.

It’s believed the female passenger failed to pay an $80 fare after hitching a ride with the taxi before the altercation broke out.

The video, which was filmed by distressed onlookers, shows the woman attempting to take off down the street when the male driver steps in front of her and demands she pay the fare.

The woman can be heard screaming “don’t touch me, it’s assault” multiple times as the man attempted to grab her.

Shocked onlookers have defended a fed-up taxi driver after he was filmed pushing a female passenger and leaving her on the side of the road over an unpaid cab fare dispute. Picture: Auburn 2144

Picture: Auburn 2144

She then slapped the man across his face, with the fight growing more physical by the second.

Meanwhile a helpless bystander tried to intervene by asking the male driver to “let her go” to which the man responded “I won’t let her go, call the police”.

“What are you going to get out of it,” the bystander questioned to no avail.

Moments later the woman appeared to be pinned against the wall of a local dry cleaning shop with the pair growing more agitated.

A female shop assistant also tried to intervene but the pair took their argument onto the road.

“Let go of me,” the woman screamed before punching the man in his face.

In response, the driver pushed the woman before she fell to her knees on the side of the road.

The woman started crying in pain as witnesses gasped.

“What the f***, what happened?” one onlooker is heard asking.

“She hitchhiked a ride and she’s supposed to pay the amount of money at the end … now he’s going to go to prison for it,” another witness explained.

The woman quickly stood up and took off down the street, leaving the male driver on the side of the road.

Despite the taxi driver’s actions, dozens of people who watched the video online via Facebook group Auburn 2144 have come to his defence saying the woman had no right to not pay the fare.

The man left the woman crying on the ground. Picture: Auburn 2144

“Let her go? That $80 could be what this hardworking man was looking for to feed his family for the night. let someone take your only way of feeding your family that day. You’ll do the same,” one man commented.

Another added: “These drivers only get paid a certain amount per km they drive so she’s basically robbed him of his rent, food money, fuel, everything else.”

Meanwhile others supported the female passenger, suggesting there could be a legitimate reason she didn’t pay.

“Maybe she didn’t pay because her phone was dead. You never know the full story, don’t be so quick to judge,” one woman commented.

Others targeted those watching the altercation, with many criticising their lack of actions.

“Everyone should be helping the man stop the thief and call the cops, they’re standing there as if he is just randomly hitting her,” one man said.

No arrests were made.

News.com.au has contacted NSW Police for comment.