A heart attack is believed to be the cause of a crash that took the life of a beloved livery cab driver in Norwood early this morning. It’s unclear whether the victim died from the heart attack or injuries from the crash.

Lee Diaz, the manager and dispatcher at Gun Hill Car Service, identified the victim as Kwame Antwi, 51, an African immigrant who lived at nearby Tracey Towers.  (Police said Antwi’s residence was listed as being in Poughkeepsie.)

“It’s devastation,” Diaz said, choking back tears. “He was a very nice man and it’s a total loss to our company.”

Officers from the 52nd Precinct were called to the intersection of East Gun Hill Road and Jerome Avenue at 2:22 a.m. today.

The black SUV, a Toyota Venza, was traveling northbound on Jerome when it jumped the sidewalk and slammed into a light pole. The victim was rushed to nearby Montefiore Medical Center, but he died about 30 minutes later.

A police source and another source close to the victim said Antwi may have suffered a heart attack prior to the crash. Police are awaiting results from a medical examination before determining a cause of death.

“He was coming up Jerome Avenue and he couldn’t turn or control the car,” said one witness, who declined to be identified. “He went straight and hit the light. His friend, another taxi driver, came in and told me he died.”

Diaz said Antwi had worked for the company for the last five years and leaves behind a wife and several children.

Antwi’s crash and death is the third serious crash in the area in the last two months. Two men remain in critical condition after a Feb. 19 crash on Jerome Avenue and Van Cortland Avenue East after their vehicle slammed into a subway pillar.

Police are still looking for the driver who struck and killed Radio Shack employee Josbel Rivera, 24, who was crossing Mosholu Parkway at Paul Avenue, on the morning of Dec. 26.