A Sarnia cab driver is recovering in hospital after being attacked by a passenger with a knife.

Police say a united cab picked up a fare in the downtown area during the dinner hour Monday evening.

The passenger said she needed to be taken to an address outside the city.

“The taxi came to a stop and the female attacked the driver with a knife, cutting him in the throat area and he received defensive wounds to his hands” explained Les Jones with the Sarnia police.

Police say the cab driver got out of the vehicle, but the woman continued to attack him, eventually getting the keys and driving off in the cab.

She abandoned the vehicle about fifteen minutes outside of Sarnia. That attracted the attention of a resident who called police.

Police have charged a twenty-one year old woman with attempted murder, aggravated assault and theft.

The sixty-four year old cab driver underwent surgery and is recovering in hospital.