DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Dayton Police mentioned 4 teenagers have been arrested for focusing on rideshare drivers at gunpoint with the intent to steal their autos. An legal professional with a regulation agency that represents rideshare drivers mentioned assaults like this have gotten extra frequent nationwide.
Four teenagers ages 15 to 16 have been arrested on aggravated robbery and aggravated homicide prices following two incidents early Wednesday morning.
Police mentioned a feminine Lyft driver was robbed of her pockets, telephone and car at gunpoint. In one other incident the identical night time, a 35-year-old male Lyft driver was discovered lifeless with a gunshot wound following a crash.
“The communication between these two detective units determined that both incidents were linked,” Lt. Jason Hall with the Dayton Police Department mentioned.
An announcement from a Lyft spokesperson in response to the incidents mentioned:
“Safety is fundamental to Lyft, and the actions that led to the events of this morning are reprehensible. Our hearts are with the driver’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, as well as with an additional driver who was impacted by this behavior. We’ve reached out to law enforcement to offer our assistance with their investigation, and we’ll continue our efforts to combat this senseless violence and help keep drivers safe.”
AuthorizedRideshareLLC legal professional and co-founder Bryant Greening mentioned rideshare drivers have gotten victims of crimes extra continuously as a result of they’re straightforward targets.
“They’re often pulled over on the side of the road, their doors are unlocked, they’re expecting that people are going to get in and out of their vehicles, their guards are often down,” Greening mentioned.
AuthorizedRideshareLLC is a regulation agency targeted on Uber, Lyft and different app-based rideshare accident and harm claims.
The regulation agency provides provides sprint cams to rideshare drivers and has established a $25,000 Driver Safety Fund. A portion of the fund go to buying sprint cams, and the remaining is supplied as $1,000 rewards for individuals who report info resulting in the conviction of individuals charged in rideshare driver-related crimes.
Greening mentioned driver safety begins with the drivers watching out for crimson flag passengers, corresponding to ones that use a faux trying title or profile.
“Many drivers are concerned about their acceptance rates, they’re concerned about retribution from the company, if that lightbulb goes off in your head that this isn’t a good situation to be in, you should extricate yourself from it,” Greening mentioned.
Lyft instructed 2 NEWS the corporate does have safety measures in place to guard drivers. The firm mentioned they work to stop carjacking by taking motion in opposition to accounts that will present high-risk rider habits. The Lyft app provides drivers an emergency assist button by way of ADT. They additionally present trip check-ins and have 24/7 safety assist.
Greening mentioned his agency want to see rideshare corporations and lawmakers take motion to deal with driver safety.
“We would like to see the companies do more,” Greening mentioned. “Put some real money, some real technology into making rideshare as safe as it can be. We would also like to see the state and local governments step in with some regulations that require safety not only for the passenger, but the driver as well.”