Several Uber passengers who refused to wear masks allegedly sprayed their driver with pepper spray after he ended the trip early, according to California officials.
The San Francisco Police Department said a 32-year-old car rental driver picked up three passengers in the Portola neighborhood on March 7, but ended the trip moments later when one of them refused to wear a mask, violating Uber policy and California. mask mandate across the state.
“An altercation occurred and a second passenger stretched his arm over the driver’s seat (in the rear seat area) and stole the driver’s cell phone from his hands. The victim grabbed and eventually regained possession of his phone,” the statement said. policeman.
“The suspects got out of the car and the third passenger reached an open window and sprayed what is believed to be pepper spray on the vehicle and in the driver’s direction,” he continued.
The three suspects fled and an investigation is underway, police said.
Several videos that circulated after the incident show the discussion from the point of view of the passengers and the driver, and show the passengers tearing off the driver’s mask and coughing over him.
“The behavior seen in the video is terrible,” Uber said in a statement, adding that they have been in contact with the driver since Sunday. “The driver no longer has access to Uber.”
