Lyft Driver Assaulted by Passenger in Providence
GoLocalProv News Team
Lyft Driver Assaulted by Passenger in Providence
Police say they have a suspect in custody.
In 2021, when Lyft released its first-ever safety report, the website The Verge reported that “driver groups criticized Lyft for a lack of attention to safety, especially as it relates to drivers. The report reveals that 10 drivers were killed in fatal assaults.”
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About Incident
Shortly after 1 AM on Sunday, police responded to Thurbers Avenue for a report of an assault.
The victim — a male driver in his 40s — told police he picked up a male passenger shortly after midnight on Chalkstone Avenue.
The driver said the passenger provided an address on Thurbers Avenue to drop him off at, but when they arrived, the passenger said it wasn’t the right destination.
According to police, the Lyft driver said he drove around several blocks in an attempt to help the passenger find what he believed was the right address.
When the passenger wasn’t able to provide a correct location, the driver took him to the original address he had provided and asked him to exit the vehicle.
It was at this time that the driver said the passenger refused to leave the vehicle and began to assault him, striking him in the head.
The victim said the passenger finally exited the vehicle and started walking on Thurbers Avenue.
Police said they located the suspect based on his description and went to apprehend him, at which time he was uncooperative and attempted to refuse arrest.
The suspect, later identified as Carlos Carreno, age 25, was taken to Central Station and held for the next session of District Court.
Carreno is facing multiple charges.