Latest news with #UberIncident
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Ottawa mom warns others after teen daughter dragged by Uber and injured
An Ottawa mother says she's frustrated with Uber and disappointed with local police after her daughter was dragged along a street by an Uber vehicle and injured. Liliane, whose last name CBC is withholding to protect the identity of her teenager because she's worried about stigma at school, says nearly three months after the incident, she's seen no consequences for the driver, nor any accountability from either the company or police — until CBC News started asking questions. "People need to know that Uber and companies like this are operating with impunity in our communities," said Lilliane, who has been accessing accident benefits through her own car insurance company. Uber refunded the $10.46 fare, but hadn't offered any compensation or statements to the family, she said. "That really doesn't seem right to me. Not even an apology," she said. "They are nearly impossible to reach." Liliane says her daughter took an Uber to school on the morning of April 9, and as she was getting out of the car her jacket sleeve got caught in the door. The driver, seemingly unaware, drove off, dragging the girl on her bare left hip until passersby flagged the driver to stop. "She was in shock. Her pants had been pulled down," said Liliane. "I think the backpack saved her life. I think it kept her head up." Liliane showed CBC photos of her daughter's injuries, but didn't want them shown publicly because they show private areas of her daughter's body. The largest visible injury was a reddish-brown skin abrasion on her daughter's hip that covered most of her left backside. Liliane said her family doctor removed pebbles and other debris that had become embedded in the teen's skin. The incident also left several scratches down her legs. Liliane said her daughter's knees and shoulders were also injured, and said the teen is still receiving physiotherapy. Feeling 'abandoned' by police Liliane says Ottawa police initially informed her family that they may lay charges under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. She says they told her the driver hadn't reported the incident to authorities, nor exchanged information with her daughter after the incident. But after following up several times, Liliane said she felt "abandoned and ignored by the police." In an emil, Ottawa police told CBC officers had investigated and "the results were shared with the involved individuals." Police confirmed to CBC that they hadn't laid charges but couldn't share their rationale, citing privacy. Liliane said the only "results" she got were a few text messages from police that she shared with CBC. In them, police suggested the driver was "remorseful" and said they wouldn't pursue charges. "What a terrible example to set for a child," said Liliane, tearing up. "Nothing. No consequences. She's the only one with consequences." In a statement, the police spokesperson said individuals dissatisfied with outcomes of investigations can contact the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, an oversight body — which Liliane plans to do. Driver no longer with Uber Getting in touch with Uber and its insurance partner also proved difficult for the family. Liliane said the companies tried to "blow [her] off" by citing privacy, even though she was calling on behalf of her own child. When CBC News contacted Uber about the incident, a spokesperson said the company has now "banned the driver's access to the platform." Liliane was surprised to learn this, and said Uber had only told her the driver wouldn't be matched with her daughter anymore. "I had not been informed of this by Uber or anyone. The first I hear of it is from [CBC]," she said. In a statement, Uber added safety remains its "top priority." "We recognize how scary this situation must have been for the rider and their family, and we're glad to hear the rider is on the mend," wrote the Uber spokesperson. Liliane feels the company still hasn't taken responsibility for what happened, and says their response isn't enough. "When something goes bad, how do they respond? Stonewall. Delay. Diffuse. Drag it out," she said. Apologies 'few and far between': lawyer Personal injury lawyer Teresa Park says apologies from companies like Uber are "very few and far between" because they can be perceived as an admission of fault. "You'll see a lot of rideshare companies either being completely radio silent, or giving you a runaround," said Park, who's with Iacobelli Law Firm. When passengers download the app they agree to certain terms and conditions, and Park says those may hinder litigation, depending on the jurisdiction and facts in each case. But Park says successful cases against negligent drivers or companies are still possible through civil court. Park recommends anyone who's injured in such an incident take screenshots and photos, get assessed medically, and report it to police in a timely manner. "Essentially, be a detective for yourself," Park advised. If possible, she suggests people retain a lawyer who may send a letter to Uber to preserve evidence such as dashcam footage or any communication between the company and driver — before it gets deleted. "That might be the smoking gun, if you will, in proving that the driver was negligent," Park said. She warns in some cases, insurance companies may offer lump sums when victims may be entitled to more. She recommends getting legal advice prior to signing anything.
CBC
07-07-2025
- CBC
Ottawa mom warns others after teen daughter dragged by Uber and injured
An Ottawa mother says she's frustrated with Uber and disappointed with local police after her daughter was dragged along a street by an Uber vehicle and injured. Liliane, whose last name CBC is withholding to protect the identity of her teenager because she's worried about stigma at school, says nearly three months after the incident, she's seen no consequences for the driver, nor any accountability from either the company or police — until CBC News started asking questions. "People need to know that Uber and companies like this are operating with impunity in our communities," said Lilliane, who has been accessing accident benefits through her own car insurance company. Uber refunded the $10.46 fare, but hadn't offered any compensation or statements to the family, she said. "That really doesn't seem right to me. Not even an apology," she said. "They are nearly impossible to reach." Liliane says her daughter took an Uber to school on the morning of April 9, and as she was getting out of the car her jacket sleeve got caught in the door. The driver, seemingly unaware, drove off, dragging the girl on her bare left hip until passersby flagged the driver to stop. "She was in shock. Her pants had been pulled down," said Liliane. "I think the backpack saved her life. I think it kept her head up." Liliane showed CBC photos of her daughter's injuries, but didn't want them shown publicly because they show private areas of her daughter's body. The largest visible injury was a reddish-brown skin abrasion on her daughter's hip that covered most of her left backside. Liliane said her family doctor removed pebbles and other debris that had become embedded in the teen's skin. The incident also left several scratches down her legs. Liliane said her daughter's knees and shoulders were also injured, and said the teen is still receiving physiotherapy. Feeling 'abandoned' by police Liliane says Ottawa police initially informed her family that they may lay charges under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. She says they told her the driver hadn't reported the incident to authorities, nor exchanged information with her daughter after the incident. But after following up several times, Liliane said she felt "abandoned and ignored by the police." In an emil, Ottawa police told CBC officers had investigated and "the results were shared with the involved individuals." Police confirmed to CBC that they hadn't laid charges but couldn't share their rationale, citing privacy. Liliane said the only "results" she got were a few text messages from police that she shared with CBC. In them, police suggested the driver was "remorseful" and said they wouldn't pursue charges. "What a terrible example to set for a child," said Liliane, tearing up. "Nothing. No consequences. She's the only one with consequences." In a statement, the police spokesperson said individuals dissatisfied with outcomes of investigations can contact the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, an oversight body — which Liliane plans to do. Driver no longer with Uber Getting in touch with Uber and its insurance partner also proved difficult for the family. Liliane said the companies tried to "blow [her] off" by citing privacy, even though she was calling on behalf of her own child. When CBC News contacted Uber about the incident, a spokesperson said the company has now "banned the driver's access to the platform." Liliane was surprised to learn this, and said Uber had only told her the driver wouldn't be matched with her daughter anymore. "I had not been informed of this by Uber or anyone. The first I hear of it is from [CBC]," she said. In a statement, Uber added safety remains its "top priority." "We recognize how scary this situation must have been for the rider and their family, and we're glad to hear the rider is on the mend," wrote the Uber spokesperson. Liliane feels the company still hasn't taken responsibility for what happened, and says their response isn't enough. "When something goes bad, how do they respond? Stonewall. Delay. Diffuse. Drag it out," she said. Apologies 'few and far between': lawyer Personal injury lawyer Teresa Park says apologies from companies like Uber are "very few and far between" because they can be perceived as an admission of fault. "You'll see a lot of rideshare companies either being completely radio silent, or giving you a runaround," said Park, who's with Iacobelli Law Firm. When passengers download the app they agree to certain terms and conditions, and Park says those may hinder litigation, depending on the jurisdiction and facts in each case. But Park says successful cases against negligent drivers or companies are still possible through civil court. Park recommends anyone who's injured in such an incident take screenshots and photos, get assessed medically, and report it to police in a timely manner. "Essentially, be a detective for yourself," Park advised. If possible, she suggests people retain a lawyer who may send a letter to Uber to preserve evidence such as dashcam footage or any communication between the company and driver — before it gets deleted. "That might be the smoking gun, if you will, in proving that the driver was negligent," Park said. She warns in some cases, insurance companies may offer lump sums when victims may be entitled to more. She recommends getting legal advice prior to signing anything.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Female Uber passenger suffers every woman's worst nightmare after driver pulled knife from his pocket
A woman has revealed how she was forced to escape from an Uber onto a busy highway after her driver pulled out a knife while behind the wheel. In shocking footage shared by TikTok user @xkhatkhu, the driver was seen menacingly twirling what appeared to be a flick knife as he drove. The incident is believed to have unfolded in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the video uploaded last week. In the clip, the shaking female passenger films as the driver whips out the blade and begins toying with it ominously for around a minute. She explained in the caption that she took the video before she, 'hopped out on the highway to escape'. The unidentified driver who was sporting a light-colored shorts and a t-shirt and a pair of glasses, went by Ethan, according to the passenger. 'Today I was blessed to make it out alive,' the TikToker wrote. Uber has since confirmed it suspended the driver in question after the clip went viral. 'Rider safety is important to us, and we take situations like this very seriously,' a spokesman said. 'We have investigated this incident and have banned the driver from the Uber platform.' But the footage sparked panic in the comment section, with many urging the passenger to take further action. 'What in the world, did you report him? Glad you are safe,' one person wrote. 'Glad you were paying attention and made it out safe. This definitely should be shared to everyone because this can definitely happen. Everyone stay safe!' 'Please tell me you got all his info and reported him to both Uber and the police. He looks like the men my true crime shows speak about. I'm glad you're okay and trusted your gut,' wrote another. In the comments of her video, the TikTok user wrote that she was 'good' after the terrifying interaction. The passenger provided an update below the video in which she was 'good' following the ordeal. 'I am here to help, but the help he needs, I don't have that power,' she wrote in one reply. 'I choose me every time, in this situation I would not have done anything differently, nor would I risk my life. 'Everybody is going through things, I wasn't going to be the one to talk him through it. 'I am a black woman and I am tired of always putting myself on the line, I'm not no hero.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Female Uber driver pulls gun on woman rapper in taxi who insulted her appearance
What began as a routine Uber ride in South Florida spiraled into a harrowing confrontation when a driver pulled a gun on a female rapper and her friend during a heated exchange caught on camera. The disturbing incident involved rapper Krissy Celess - also known by her stage name Bomb A** Krissy - who was riding with a friend in Hollywood, Florida, on Tuesday when tensions with their Uber driver escalated into a dangerous encounter. A video of the confrontation, which has since gone viral, shows the unidentified driver pulling a firearm and aiming it directly at the two women after she was allegedly insulted over her appearance. 'You got them crazy eyes!' the budding rapper shouted at the driver, moments before the situation took a frightening turn. Just prior to that, the driver - visibly agitated - shut the car's center console, revealing a firearm in her right hand while holding a cellphone in the other, which appeared to be connected to an ongoing call. 'You're harassing me,' the driver said, turning wide-eyed toward Celess in the backseat. 'Get out of my vehicle right now.' 'I am not harassing you,' Celess calmly responds, recording the confrontation, which she later posted to her Instagram page. 'Get out of my vehicle!' the driver yells again, gripping her phone. The call operator on the line attempted to de-escalate the situation: '911 ma'am, what is your address?' 'She doesn't want to get out of my vehicle!' the driver shouts, as Celess calmly interjects, 'No, she just pulled a gun.' The woman behind the wheel continues screaming, 'Get out of my vehicle, you are no longer in the ride! Get out! Get out of my vehicle right now!' Celess, slowly backing away, calls out again, 'She has crazy eyes,' as she exits the car. The driver then reacts instantly, raising her firearm toward the rapper and her friend - just inches from Celess's phone camera. 'Oooh, ooh,' Celess exclaims, stepping back. 'She wanted to do it anyway, she wants to,' she says while walking to the back of the car to snap a photo of the driver's license plate. 'Don't worry, you're going to go viral,' she calls back at the driver, who speeds off in rage, the rear passenger door slamming shut from the force. The up-and-coming rapper later told WSVN the ride turned terrifying after she tried to give directions. 'I said, "Hey, the turn is right here. You're going to make a left,"' Celess recalled. 'And she was in the middle lane and she was like, "Oh, you don't have to tell me. That's what I have a GPS for." It just escalated so quickly.' Becoming emotional, Celess told the local outlet that during the terrifying moment, she could only think of her four-year-old son. 'I was just thinking about my son. I wanted to…,' she said, her voice trailing off. 'I just never expected anything like this to happen.' Celess captioned her viral post 'An @uber driver just pulled a gun out on us. Help us get her off the streets before she potentially harms another passenger.' Uber has since responded to the video, revoking the driver's access to the app while the company investigates. 'This is extremely concerning. We removed the driver's access to the app and are continuing to investigate,' a spokesperson said. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made as of now. Meanwhile, Carlos Dominguez, an attorney for Celess and the other passenger, told WSVN that they intend to pursue legal action against Uber for what he described as an alleged instance of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 'I would argue that the Uber driver was extremely aggressive, and the reaction of pulling a gun was extremely excessive,' Dominguez stated. 'You know, emotions can sometimes spur out of control because of a simple disagreement, but those disagreements do not necessitate a firearm to be pointed at you.'
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Terrifying moment Florida Uber driver pulls gun on female rapper who insulted her appearance
What began as a routine Uber ride in South Florida spiraled into a harrowing confrontation when a driver pulled a gun on a female rapper and her friend during a heated exchange caught on camera. The disturbing incident involved rapper Krissy Celess - also known by her stage name Bomb A** Krissy - who was riding with a friend in Hollywood, Florida, on Tuesday when tensions with their Uber driver escalated into a dangerous encounter. A video of the confrontation, which has since gone viral, shows the unidentified driver pulling a firearm and aiming it directly at the two women after she was allegedly insulted over her appearance. 'You got them crazy eyes!' the budding rapper shouted at the driver, moments before the situation took a frightening turn. Just prior to that, the driver - visibly agitated - shut the car's center console, revealing a firearm in her right hand while holding a cellphone in the other, which appeared to be connected to an ongoing call. 'You're harassing me,' the driver says, turning wide-eyed toward Celess in the backseat. 'Get out of my vehicle right [expletive] now.' 'I am not harassing you,' Celess calmly responds, recording the confrontation, which she later posted to her Instagram page. 'Get out of my vehicle!' the driver yells again, gripping her phone. The call operator on the line attempted to de-escalate the situation: '911 ma'am, what is your address?' 'She doesn't want to get out of my vehicle!' the driver shouts, as Celess calmly interjects, 'No, she just pulled a gun.' The woman behind the wheel continues screaming, 'Get out of my vehicle, you are no longer in the ride! Get out! Get out of my vehicle right now!' Celess, slowly backing away, calls out again, 'She has crazy eyes,' as she exits the car. The driver then reacts instantly, raising her firearm toward the rapper and her friend - just inches from Celess's phone camera. 'Oooh, ooh,' Celess exclaims, stepping back. 'She wanted to do it anyway, she wants to,' she says while walking to the back of the car to snap a photo of the driver's license plate. 'Don't worry, you're going to go viral,' she calls back at the driver, who speeds off in rage, the rear passenger door slamming shut from the force. The up-and-coming rapper later told WSVN the ride turned terrifying after she tried to give directions. 'I said, "Hey, the turn is right here. You're going to make a left,"' Celess recalled. 'And she was in the middle lane and she was like, "Oh, you don't have to tell me. That's what I have a GPS for." It just escalated so quickly.' Becoming emotional, Celess told the local outlet that during the terrifying moment, she could only think of her 4-year-old son. 'I was just thinking about my son. I wanted to…,' she said, her voice trailing off. 'I just never expected anything like this to happen.' Celess captioned her viral post - now with over 74,000 views - 'an @uber driver just pulled a gun out on us. Help us get her off the streets before she potentially harms another passenger.' Uber has since responded to the video, revoking the driver's access to the app while the company investigates. 'This is extremely concerning. We removed the driver's access to the app and are continuing to investigate,' a spokesperson said. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made as of now. Meanwhile, Carlos Dominguez, an attorney for Celess and the other passenger, told WSVN that they intend to pursue legal action against Uber for what he described as an alleged instance of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 'I would argue that the Uber driver was extremely aggressive, and the reaction of pulling a gun was extremely excessive,' Dominguez stated. 'You know, emotions can sometimes spur out of control because of a simple disagreement, but those disagreements do not necessitate a firearm to be pointed at you.'
