ST. LOUIS — A Lyft driver is now missing a part of his ear after a rider took his car in the Midtown area Sunday.
St. Louis police said the driver, a 32-year-old man, thought he was taking a customer to their destination a little before 6 p.m.
The suspect, a 39-year-old woman, was sitting behind the driver in the backseat when she demanded he pull over near Interstate 64 eastbound and Market Street, according to a police report.
She then told the driver she had a firearm, and the driver pulled off the road as told. The police report states the suspect then took the driver's phone, threw it out of the window, and began trying to take the car keys. The two struggled, and that's when the woman bit the man's ear, police said. As the driver tried to pull away, the woman pushed him out of the car. The woman then climbed into the driver’s seat and drove away in the stolen vehicle.
A short time later, the victim’s vehicle was involved in a wreck in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 44 near Walnut Street, where the suspect ran away.
The victim lost a portion of his ear during the incident and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
St. Louis police said the investigation is ongoing.
A Lyft spokesperson provided the following statement:
"Safety is fundamental to Lyft, and the incidents described are deeply concerning. We've been in touch with the drivers to offer our support and have permanently removed the rider accounts from the Lyft community. We are working with law enforcement to help keep drivers safe while also exploring ways to expand the use of certain safety features and alerts to help prevent these kinds of incidents moving forward."
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to “stabilize inner-city neighborhoods.” One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
To learn more, call 314-381-8200 or visit https://www.betterfamilylife.org/
Life Outside of Violence “helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence.”
To learn more, call 314-327-6697 or email: ProjectLOV@WUSTL.edu
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership between and Saint Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
To learn more, visit https://www.ulstl.com/anti-crime-initiative.html
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities. To learn more, visit https://cvg.org/
