a 17 year old North Carolina teen is back home recovering after jumping out of her Lyft ride after becoming suspicious of her driver.
Eziya Bowden was on her way home from work before jumping from the moving vehicle, which landed her in a bruised hospital emergency room.
The teenager tells him ABC 11 News that she became suspicious immediately after getting in the car when the driver began making comments about her appearance, even going so far as to say that he would date her if it weren’t for her young age.
“How many guys flirted with you? He said that right away,” she recalls the driver asking.
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But it wasn’t just his questions that made her uncomfortable. She also felt a strange sensation on her body.
“If I’m traveling with a stranger, I’m always nervous, but I knew this was different. I knew I wasn’t going crazy or anything. I knew my body had never felt like this before. I’ve seen a lot of this, so I knew I was feeling high,” says Bowden.
According to Bowden, the car smelled of cigarettes, prompting the driver to spray something to mask the smell. But he kept spraying, which she said left her feeling hot and disoriented.
“So you keep spraying it, then roll up the windows, like, I know how, it’s not about me being nervous or anything,” Bowden said. I’m like, I know how he made me feel.”
acting fast
Bowden knew he had to act fast. Fearing the worst if she fell asleep, she got out of an awkward situation by jumping out of the car.
Your suspicions may have been correct. She says the driver didn’t stop and instead called the police pretending to witness the whole ordeal.
Fortunately for this cyclist, although she has bruises on her face, she didn’t break any bones and made it home safely!
What Lyft Says
A Lyft spokesperson says the company is aware of the driver’s concerning behavior and has blocked their access to the platform. The rideshare company is also prepared to work with and support any Raleigh police investigation.
So far, the driver has not been charged with anything related to the incident. As for Bowden, he doesn’t plan to use ride-sharing services again.
