A 20-year-old woman in California has accused an Uber driver of attempted kidnapping and sexual harassment during a ride. The driver allegedly asked her personal questions, showed her a sexually explicit photo, and tried to lock her inside the car.
An Uber ride in Central California turned into a nightmare for a young woman when the driver allegedly attempted to kidnap her and showed her nude images of himself during the drive. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in downtown Clovis, a suburb of Fresno.
According to the Clovis Police Department, the 20-year-old victim reported that the driver was asking her personal questions that made her uncomfortable. At some point during the ride, the driver showed her a sexually explicit photo on his cellphone.
Uber Driver Accused of Attempted Kidnapping and Sexual Harassment in California
The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told KSEE24 that she was terrified and begged the driver to let her out of the car. She managed to escape when the vehicle was stopped at a red light.
A family friend confirmed the woman's account to Fox News Digital, saying she felt like he was going to kidnap her. The victim reported the incident to police, who identified the driver as "FNU," meaning "First Name Unavailable."
Uber Driver Accused of Attempted Kidnapping and Sexual Harassment in California
Uber has removed the driver's access to the app while the investigation continues. The company has also issued a statement acknowledging the report and stating that it takes such matters seriously.
"The rider’s report is deeply concerning," an Uber spokesperson said. "We have removed this driver’s access to the app while we continue to investigate. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation."
Uber Driver Accused of Attempted Kidnapping and Sexual Harassment in California
The victim's friends have posted a warning about the incident on Instagram, identifying the driver and urging other riders to be aware. The post has garnered widespread attention and raised concerns about passenger safety on Uber.
Uber has implemented various safety measures, including background checks on drivers and a continuous monitoring system for new offenses. However, the recent incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of these measures and the company's responsibility for ensuring rider safety.
Uber Driver Accused of Attempted Kidnapping and Sexual Harassment in California
The victim is currently receiving support from her family and friends. Uber has offered her a refund for the ride and apologized for the incident. However, her friends have criticized the company for not doing more to prevent such incidents from happening.
The Clovis Police Department is continuing its investigation and has forwarded the case to the Fresno County District Attorney's Office. The driver's attorney has been contacted, but he is no longer wanted for questioning at this time.
