Rideshare drivers react after Uber driver carjacked in Henrico

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Rideshare drivers in the Richmond area are reacting after an Uber driver was carjacked in broad daylight in Henrico County over the weekend.

According to the Henrico County Police Division, the incident happened on the 12300 block of Gayton Road at around 3:18 p.m. on Saturday, June 22.

Officers found the stolen vehicle and initiated a traffic stop near Holman Ridge Road. The stop turned into a police pursuit, which led to the driver crashing off the road. The two juvenile suspects fled the scene, but officers eventually found and arrested them.

“[I] definitely have [had] some experiences, but not where somebody is going to jack my car,” Kit Phoutasen, a local Lyft driver, told 8News.

Phoutasen has been a rideshare driver for 10 years and called the alleged carjacking shocking.

“If I have a bad feeling, I just won’t take the ride,” Phoutasen said. “If it’s just like a sketch profile, like somebody has no rides, and they’ve been signed up for years or something like that. But the profile just seems like weird, I just won’t take it.”

Another Lyft driver, Yohannes II, told 8News he uses situational awareness when he is working.

“I would encourage everybody to just really be aware all the time, you know what I mean? Keep your head on a swivel,” he said.

In response to the incident, the Richmond Drivers Alliance issued a statement.

“We’re horrified but unsurprised that another attack on a rideshare driver has happened, and we’re determined to continue fighting for better protections for gig workers to prevent and mitigate harm,” reads part of the statement.

8News reached out to Uber for a statement about the incident and is waiting to hear back.

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