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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Sleepy Uber Driver Sues Over Passenger’s Crash

Bringing suit over a bizarre police chase that made headlines, a former Uber driver wants damages after letting a passenger take the wheel so he could nap in the backseat.

BRONX, N.Y. (CN) – Bringing suit over a bizarre police chase that made headlines, a former Uber driver wants damages after letting a passenger take the wheel so he could nap in the backseat.

Corey Robinson says the ordeal began in his hometown of Philadelphia on April 2 when Juan Carlos hired him to drive up to New York City.

At some point during the 110-mile drive to the Bronx, according to the complaint, Robinson “fell into peril in becoming too tired to continue driving their long journey.”

Filed in Bronx County Supreme Court, Robinson’s complaint says Carlos took “on the good Samaritan doctrine role,” only to worsen Robinson’s position by “driving recklessly.”

Robinson included a New York Post article on the bizarre ride with his Dec. 16 lawsuit. It says 43-year-old Robinson woke up to find 20-year-old Carlos speeding.

"I told him to stop the car, and he said 'the police are chasing us,’” Robinson told the Post.

New York state troopers spotted the car going 86 mph in a 65-mph zone around 5:35 a.m., according to the article. Carlos reportedly lost the cops but crashed Robinson’s 2016 Hyundai Sonata into a guardrail in Colesville.

The Post quoted Robinson as saying his car was "completely totaled," and that he spotted Carlos laughing after the crash.

Carlos was driving without a license, according to the article, which says he was charged with several traffic violations including unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.

Uber has not yet returned a request for comment, but the Post quoted a spokeswoman for the rideshare company as saying they suspended Robinson as an Uber driver pending an investigation. Carlos’ account was reportedly also suspended.

Robinson brought his complaint against Carlos, described as a Bronx resident, as well as Uber Technologies Inc. and Uber Transportation LLC.

He says he had been leasing the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, and that Uber deducted funds from Robinson’s paychecks to pay the leasing agency.

Robinson is represented by Manhattan attorney David DeToffol.

Categories / Personal Injury

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