A Massachusetts woman who was riding home alone in an Uber around 3 a.m. says she was beyond terrified when her driver suddenly proposed making a stop at a parking garage to charge his car. She said the situation left her so unsettled that she decided to end the ride before reaching home and later involved the police.
She recorded and shared part of the encounter on TikTok as a warning to other riders, and the video went viral, leaving viewers just as disturbed as she was.
According to the woman, they were only about 25 minutes away from her destination when the driver told her he wanted to make a 15- to 20-minute stop to charge his vehicle before continuing the trip. Not only did she not welcome the detour, but she said she was already concerned that he had missed an exit she expected him to take.
In the clip she recorded from the backseat of the car, the driver could be heard asking her if she wanted to end the trip. The woman responded that she did, adding, “I don’t want to get into a random parking lot with you,” and pointing out that he had also missed the exit.
The driver told her he would stop at a shopping mall in Braintree, the South Shore Plaza, which he said was a “much better location” since there were usually people around. “I just want to make you feel more comfortable,” he added.
When the woman agreed, the man chuckled and said, “I really don’t want to do this.”
The clip ended shortly afterward without showing how the two eventually parted ways.
Woman Says She Called the Police
The woman may have had reason to trust her gut about ending the ride. In the caption accompanying the video, she revealed that she later contacted the police and arranged to meet officers at a gas station.
According to her, police checked the nearby charging stations where the driver had reportedly said he was going, but they did not find him there.
The woman also said the driver’s car still had 43% charge remaining, so she did not understand why he needed to make a stop when they were only minutes away from her destination.
Viewers Found the Situation Alarming
As of this writing, the video has racked up more than 800,000 views on TikTok. Many viewers said they understood why the woman was uncomfortable in that situation, particularly given the time of night and the fact that she was traveling alone.
Some said they found the driver’s behavior concerning and felt he needed to be reported.
“My heart is beating out [of] my chest. Why [expletive] would he think that’s okay,” one person commented. Another wrote, “He could literally do it right after he drops you off. Absolutely not. I hope you reported him. This so scary [sic].” A third said, “Something about the way he said he wanted to make you feel more comfortable instantly made the situation significantly less comfortable.” A fourth added, “He’s being so manipulative. Report this dude it’s so wrong. I hope you’re ok.”
Other commenters encouraged women to choose female drivers when that option is available. “Ladies please request female drivers. My daughter had a Lyft driver ask if she wanted to drink in the car with him before he lets her out,” one woman shared. Someone else said, “Women should always use the woman driver option if available in your city. Costs the same although a peaceful safe ride is priceless. I’m so sorry you were in this situation.”
The woman has described the experience as the “scariest thing ever” and said she was thankful she had been sober and paying attention during the drive. Beyond the initial TikTok post, she has shared no further updates.
