One Central California woman’s Uber ride turned into a nightmare after her driver allegedly tried to kidnap her and showed her nude photos of himself while driving.
The incident happened Sunday afternoon in downtown Clovis, a suburb of Fresno.
Clovis Police Department spokesman Ty Wood confirmed the reports to Fox News Digital, saying police were called to an intersection in Clovis around 12:30 p.m. on a report of a possible sexual assault.
Wood said the victim, an adult woman, reported that the Uber driver asked her personal questions and made her feel uncomfortable.
Father takes action after catching rideshare driver assaulting daughter: police
A California woman claims that an Uber driver showed her sexually explicit images during her ride. (Getty)
The victim, a 20-year-old woman, said that at some point during the ride, the Uber driver showed her sexually explicit photos on his phone, Wood said.
“He pulled out his phone and he pulled out pictures of him touching his private parts and when I saw them my eyes just got really big and I was really scared,” the victim told KSEE 24. “I was like, ‘What?’ and I started saying, ‘No, no, please, just let it out.'”
A family friend confirmed the allegations to Fox News Digital, saying he felt he had been nearly kidnapped.
The victim then told officers that she thought the Uber driver was trying to lock her in the vehicle, but she managed to escape the Uber driver’s vehicle when he was stopped at a red light and ran away.
“She called me and was hysterical and said she’d almost been kidnapped. This was all that was going through the mind of this innocent little girl on a Sunday afternoon going to the nail salon. I couldn’t believe something like this could happen and I was very worried,” her friend told Fox News Digital.
Missing Texas college student Caleb Harris vanished after ordering Uber Eats: ‘It’s a mystery’
An Uber driver in Clovis, California, is accused of abducting a female passenger on Sunday and trying to force her to look at sexually explicit images. (via grillmastersbbq on Instagram)
“I was so scared I ran for my life. It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced,” the victim said.
Close friends of the victim posted a notice on Instagram naming the Uber driver, who they identified as “FNU” (First Name Unknown).
“Hello everyone. We want you to know about this predator in our community. He sexually harassed, showed inappropriate sexual images, locked our friend in his car against his will, diverted her from her destination, and attempted to kidnap her,” the post read.
Wood said this is still under investigation, but police have been contacted by an attorney representing the driver.
“He is no longer being questioned and at this time the case has been sent to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office,” Wood said.
Ohio man charged with murder after shooting Uber driver he believed was scamming
An Uber logo appears on a car in San Francisco on March 22, 2019. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Uber also released a statement to Fox News Digital about the situation, confirming that it is aware of the matter and takes reports like this seriously.
“The rider’s report is extremely concerning. We have removed the driver’s access to the app while we continue to investigate, and we stand ready to cooperate with any law enforcement investigations,” an Uber spokesperson said.
The victim’s friends also claim that Uber has refunded the victim’s fare and apologised for the incident.
“It’s shameful that Uber didn’t do more than apologise to the woman and provide a refund. Uber needs to do more to keep its passengers safe,” the post read.
Uber would not confirm or deny the allegations to Fox News Digital, nor would it provide any details about refunds or what victims have been told.
Click here to get the FOX News app
An Uber spokesperson added that the company’s safety team constantly reviews reports and investigates any concerns.
“All potential drivers are required to go through our background check process, which checks their MVR and criminal history at the local and federal level. Drivers are re-screened annually and we also have an ongoing background check process that monitors for new offenses,” an Uber spokesperson said.
The victim would not speak to Fox News Digital, saying she was in shock and trying to process what happened.
