"Issues that affect the safety of drivers are very concerning to us. The police recently charged a 14-year-old girl in four carjackings. "Uber was so common and so convenient," he said. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The 46-year-old rideshare driver fought back when a passenger tried to carjack him on the city's West Side. President Joe Biden has ordered the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day in an effort to control energy prices. One of them put a gun against my head.". "And that's when his girlfriend went ballistic.". "They went on a rampage. Its a really really tough situation for me. The driver was stunned in his torso. The apps matched all five of those drivers to pick up passengers who then went on to rob, beat, shoot, and in one case, kill them. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Uber and Lyft consider drivers independent contractors, so they dont have sick leave, workers compensation, or medical insurance through the companies. Chicago police arrest photo That's what happened with Edmond Harris. They just want to get to their destination.. An Uber driver and father of three who was shot in the head in Illinois during an armed carjacking has died, according to reports. Suppose you accept this rider request and [the] name is meow meow or daddy or number 8. . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. His car was found crashed into a nearby garage with the airbags deployed. He had separate insurance through Lyft, but it wouldnt cover anything but the loss of his car, and with that he was still on the hook for a $2,500 deductible. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. The stolen vehicles are then used to commit more robberies on the street, officials said. In juvenile court in the district, defendants who are found responsible meaning guilty may only be jailed until the age of 21, according to the outlet. After getting hit repeatedly, Norman was finally able to lift the armrest and get her gun. while driving off he threatened to shoot them but they hit him with whatever they had and yelled at him to get out. Enterprise Reporter. To get on the platform, riders just need an email address and phone numberboth of which can be spoofed through fake email accounts, free SMS services, and burner phones. All Rights Reserved. With mounting fear in the gig worker community, some drivers have devised their own workarounds to try and stay safe. LegalRideshare, the firm Greening co-founded, has donated $10,000 to buy dash cams for Chicago-based drivers. They say, 'Don't move,'" Roth said. Uber drivers told the station they are terrified. All Rights Reserved. Last September, Tommy Cross was driving for Lyft when he was attacked by three passengers in Oklahoma City. CHICAGO (CBS) -- An Uber driver is speaking out after a gun was put to his head while on the job. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Driver advocates say Uber and Lyft have not taken simple steps that could have prevented some of the incidents. He said the photos dont have to be shared with drivers, but rather the companies could temporarily keep them in their databases in case anything happens during a ride. The victim was sitting inside his black 2020 Range Rover when four male suspects approached and displayed handguns. Sanchez, the Chicago driver organizer, said hes also seeing drivers work only at the airport now. Always keep the doors locked while driving and your phone on and close to you so you can make a fast call to 911. Edmond Harris, 18, is charged with shooting Anthony Jones on Jan. 20 during an attempted carjacking. For drivers its a different story. Lyft didnt comment on why passengers dont have to upload profile pictures and are allowed to use alias names and anonymous payment methods. Lyft and Uber didnt respond to a request for comment on Sanchezs remark. The two passengers then took off with his car, which has not been recovered. By He has been an Uber driver for five years, and nothing like this has ever happened. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's failure to advance to a runoff election Tuesday represents an astonishing fall from power four years after she was ushered into City Hall with a promise of reform. 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The Cook County Sheriff's Office said Roth's car was found in the 1900 block of South Christiana Avenue, not too far from where he picked up the suspects. "It's very saddening to see when someone is just out there, trying to do a job, helping people transport from one place to another.". Uber says it has sent . CHICAGO (WLS) -- Rideshare companies are taking action to help not only make their drivers feel safer but actually make them safer while working. He's also charged with a March 6 carjacking and with killing an Uber driver during a March 23 carjacking. Home Taxi Today in history: Taxi drivers to fight city over ban on parking - Cadillac News. "And not only that, but that car was a brand new car for me. First published on August 31, 2021 / 6:19 PM. While The Markup has tracked more than 100 carjackings of ride-hail drivers over the past year and a half, including three this month in Atlanta, Cleveland, and Key West, this number is far from comprehensive. I just work the airport, Morrow said. We continuously invest in new products and policies to help protect drivers, and are exploring ways to expand the use of our safety features to help prevent these incidents from happening and support drivers if they do, said Ashley Adams, a Lyft spokesperson. A stun gun was found in the car, leading officials to also charge. Partly cloudy skies. Sanchez himself quit driving for Uber and Lyft during the pandemic and hasnt yet returned. In each incident, a group of four men dressed in all black approached Uber drivers and other motorists and demand their vehicle and personal property at gunpoint, police said. Tulsa, OK (74129) Today. He was originally from Ghana but had been living in the U.S. since 2011. J.B. Pritzker has signed a collection of bills aimed to combat carjackings and vehicle thefts. Were happy to make this story available to republish for free under the conditions of an AttributionNonCommercialNo Derivatives Creative Commons license. The pair, ages 13 and 15, have been charged with felony murder, carjacking and armed robbery in the deadly incident, which they allegedly carried out near Nationals Park in the Southeast section. The specific details of what happened next arent fully clear, because Tommy said he went in and out of consciousness. Sanchez gave chase on foot. In April, Uber announced that new accounts using a prepaid card, gift card, or Venmo would also need to upload a valid ID. prosecutors charged two men with shooting people during separate carjacking attempts in November. 1 hospitalized after fire in West Town, CFD says, Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, Belvidere Jeep assembly plant shut down indefinitely. Javier Ramos' family said the Uber driver was killed while fighting back when a passenger tried to carjack him early Tuesday morning in North Lawndale. A crash landing after breakout political rise Tenure marked by crime, pandemic, personality conflicts 2023-03-01 - By Gregory Pratt and Alice Yin . CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are looking for a suspect after an Uber driver was shot and killed on the city's West Side. But when he got to his destination in the 4700 block of South Lotus in Stickney Township, that's when things went south. On the same evening that the Lyft driver was carjacked, two men hijacked an Uber driver while he waited for a passenger to arrive on the 400 block of West Roslyn in Lincoln Park. Sanchez said the woman's behavior at the drive-thru so unnerved him that he could not properly respond to what the dispatcher was asking. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Uber And Lyft Drivers Are Being Carjacked at Alarming Rates The Markup confirmed 124 carjackings and attempted carjackings of ride-hail drivers across the country. Lyft says it encourages all riders to upload a photo and that drivers can view the rider's name and rating before choosing to accept a ride. Sign up to get the Hello World newsletter in your inbox everySaturday. Security footage obtained by the local station shows the four suspects, wearing hoods over their heads, approach his four-door Ford car. The ABC 7 data team found a sharp increase in rideshare drivers being victimized in Chicago. I lost my car, my husband, money, everything we had, for a ride for six dollars and something cents.. David Morrow has been an Uber driver in Atlanta for more than three years and has given more than 4,700 trips. The Markup spoke with three drivers who were victims of carjackings, and with friends and family members of two additional drivers. Lori Lightfoot, who defied expectations four years ago to win the Chicago mayoral race as a political outsider, finds herself once again the underdog as she . Elijah, being the person he was, he was not going to give up his car.. "And I'm not on unemployment because I am tossed off of that, because of the pandemic all my other industries are down.". Illinois Gov. Sheryl said shed never be a ride-hail driver again but would like to do food deliveries; she set up a PayPal Pool fundraiser to try and get help to buy a new car. every once in a while a trial comes along. Now Chicago Police say that gun was used in several robberies. Others include Uber drivers Javier Ramos and Joe Schelstraete, both of whom were fatally shot in the Chicago area in March and June, respectively; Uber driver Joshua Miller, who was killed in Dallas in January; Timothy Perkins, who also drove for Uber and was fatally stabbed in Detroit in January; and Lyft driver Kristopher Roukey, who was fatally shot in Akron, Ohio, in May. "I'm just really thankful he was able to get out of it without any injuries.". It's not clear if the carjackers ordered the . Three of the carjackings happened. One of them got in the back seat and shot the father of three in the head, the station said. Drivers say the companies are doing little to help By Dara Kerr July 22, 2021 08:00 ET Updated July 22, 2021 16:40 ET Sanchez said its crucial that Uber and Lyft do whatever it takes to deter criminals from using the apps. "There is a large police presence at the mall at this time," Aurora police tweeted at 3:23 p.m. No further details were immediately available. Chicago police recorded 279 carjackings between November 1 and December 15 this year. We are working with law enforcement on their investigation.". Gurney's carjacking happened last year, when Chicago set a new 21-year record with 1,848 carjackings. A fourth person was said to have driven that vehicle away from the scene. Chicago police said on Jan. 20, a rideshare driver was carjacked in front of Willis Tower. The suspects in these cases have yet to be found. The Uber driver, understandably, was very shaken up Tuesday and could not do an interview with us. Its sad it had to happen," he said. CHICAGO - At least four people were carjacked in Chicago Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning in Chicago. A new feature will require riders who are setting up accounts with prepaid debit cards, gift cards or Venmo to also upload a valid ID, like a driver's license or a passport. That would be the second highest Chicago total since 2001 and once again, roughly triple 2019's total. CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Lyft driver said he was attacked and carjacked by his passengers after telling them they could not vape or snack in his vehicle. These companies have blood on their hands.. And Lyft has a lot of holes in the system.. Illinois Gov. The carjacking occurred shortly before 1 p.m. in the 2000 block of West Arthur Avenue. He said he felt something right off the bat.. The victim was listed in critical condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Police departments nationwide have reported an overall surge in carjackings during the pandemic, and these incidents appear to be happening to ride-hail drivers at an especially high rate. sean: up next, kennedy. Chicago carjackings rose by 135 percent in 2020, to 1,415. . CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two rideshare drivers were recovering Tuesday after being attacked with stun guns by their passengers. The Uber driver's son said once his father picked the men up in his black Toyota Highlander, he was attacked with a stun gun a block into the ride. Next, the Lyft app showed their destination as a short, four-minute ride awaythe second red flag. To him, a mandatory selfie feature for passengers would be a good start. CHICAGO - At least five people were carjacked and robbed in a span of two hours Wednesday morning across several Chicago neighborhoods, according to a new CPD community alert. Jodi Kawada Page, an Uber spokesperson, said, Whats been reported is extremely concerning weve sent safety information to drivers and couriers and are working with police on their investigations into these horrible crimes.. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Under DC law, the 13-year-old cant be charged as an adult even in a murder case, according to the Post. By Friday, police had found and charged the male offender. It all started in North Lawndale and ended in suburban Stickney Township. Uber continues to implement new processes and technology to identify and prevent user fraud. One was wearing a gold hoodie, the other was in a black hoodie; both had on face masks. By allowing people to use fake names and not upload pictures of themselves, they give criminals a level of anonymity that makes them feel comfortable committing the crime, he said. When I put someone in the back of my car, I pray they dont have a gun, Kevin Ferrari said. PROVIDENCE - A federal judge on Wednesday agreed to release a former Almighty Latin King Nation gang member convicted in a deadly carjacking almost three decades ago based on his youth at the . This is the second time his father has been carjacked in 10 months. Lyfts Adams didnt comment specifically on this instance but said individual claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. He had picked up two men from a nearby restaurant. . Their cars ended up crashed, in chop-shops, or used in other crimes. Now, La Fountain is left with figuring out what's next and healing from the emotional trauma. Investigations, Dara Kerr The pair stole his cellphone and backpack containing his iPad. Some of them have bullet holes in their cars, some dont, Sanchez said. So yeah, we're seeing an uptick.". "I have no income now because I don't have a car," Sanchez said. Dara Kerr. At 13 and 15, the girls are obviously too young to drive legally. Norman said she was out late driving because her husband was sick in the hospital and she figured they could use the extra money. Indiana resident Joe Schelstraete, 38, was working in Cicero, Illinois Monday evening when he picked up four armed men who used the Uber app to hail him, according to Fox 32. Three of the carjackings happened within a few miles of each other on the West and Near Northwest sides there was a third in the 2600 block of North Mozart Street in Logan Square. There's a cluster on the West Side, a smaller amount on the South Side, and few more all over the city. Through interviews with drivers and family members, police reports, and local news articles, The Markup found Uber and Lyft drivers from Boston to Nashville to Sioux Falls, S.D., whove been victims of carjackings or attempted carjackings. "And he looked at me and turned around and got confrontational and I looked at him like, I am not taking this. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "A few of them, they were actually sleeping. There were 1,416 carjackings in Chicago in 2020. Were Watching BigTech. That was the last contact she had with anyone from the company, she said. Fantasy Baseball 2023: Hitting sleepers at each position,Andy Behrens identifies one hitter at each position being undervalued in 2023 fantasy baseball drafts. Uber also donated $25,000 to a Crimestoppers fund in Chicago to combat carjackings there. Someone has to do something," he said. The carjackers were described as three Black males who wore white face masks. "He was doing food delivery - Uber Eats - again, for Uber. Updated: Feb 26, 2023 / 06:25 PM CST. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. On one recent day, Brian La Fountain, a Chicago Uber driver, was waiting at a stop light on the city's Near West Side when, suddenly, three young men armed with guns jumped in front of his SUV, he told NBC 5. And at least 1,700 rideshare drivers agree with him, signing a petition asking Uber and Lyft to prohibit use of fake names. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The alleged assailant had used a fake name to hail the ride, according to the statement. Sanchez said the Independent Drivers Guild regularly canvasses gig workers at OHare airport and encounters about a dozen drivers per week who say theyve experienced a carjacking or attempted carjacking. One driver in Washington, D.C., was parked on the side of the road and livestreaming on Facebook when carjackers busted in and stole his vehicle. August 31, 2021 / 6:19 PM Uber and Lyft didnt respond to requests to provide data on the number of carjackings involving their drivers. They must use a government issued ID, go through background checks, and have their name and a photo of themselves in the app. Not all carjackings are covered by the local news, and most police departments dont compile stats on carjackings that happen specifically to ride-hail drivers. The girls are due back in court on April 20 to discuss the status of the case, the outlet said. As with Norman, Lyfts and Ubers algorithms paired all three women with their assailants. She realized it all happened so fast that she still had on her seat belt. Gig workers guards are down in a way that normal drivers wouldnt be because they have strangers getting in and out of their cars, said Greening, the lawyer. All of these drivers were matched to their attackers by Uber or Lyfts algorithms. He was not injured, but he feels like had he not done what the carjackers wanted, he would not be here to tell his story. 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