A Virginia Uber driver was attacked by his passengers after he asked them not to drink alcohol in his vehicle, according to police.
The driver, whose name is not being made public, told officers that he was hit in the head with a glass bottle, and punched, by his three male passengers.
The driver had picked up a group of six passengers around 11 p.m. on Saturday night and was driving them to their destination when he heard beer bottles clinking.
The driver asked the boisterous group to throw out the beer, pulling over near the Pentagon and the south end of Arlington National Cemetery.
Instead, one of the men opened a passenger-side door and tried to pull the keys out of the ignition. When he wasn’t able to, he began punching the driver.
“I tried to stop him with my hand, then from the other hand he threw the bottle at me on my head,” the driver told NBC. “After that, he started punching me.”
Another passenger shattered one of the car’s windows, leading the entire group to flee the scene.
Police ended up charging half the group. Lance Ingram, 25, was charged with assault by mob; Justin Norconk, 26, was charged with malicious wounding and assault by mob; and Jeffrey Rowe, 26, was charged with destruction of property.
The men had tried to leave the scene in a taxi.
“We take this very seriously. No. 1, they shouldn’t have been consuming alcohol in the car, so he is in the right to ask them to refrain from doing so,” Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage said. “And then to violently attack him is absolutely inappropriate.”
The Uber driver, who had cuts to his face and a bump on his head, told WUSA9 that he’s now concerned about his safety.
“The main thing I’m concerned about: Is this passenger going to be ok, is he going to be nuts, and will it be safe for me or not,” he said.
An Uber spokesperson said they’re assisting police, and have deactivated the accounts of the two men who requested the ride.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of harassment and abuse. We’ve been in touch with the driver-partner and stand ready to assist the authorities with their investigation,” the spokesperson said.
Other D.C.-area Uber riders also slammed the attack.
“I rely on the train and the bus and Uber to get to and from the hospital. It’s a vital service so I am ashamed this happened,” said Uber rider Jay Forehand. “I wish there were more protections for the drivers. I hope they throw the book at them. It’s unacceptable.”
“I think it’s pretty disgusting that there is behavior like that,” added Uber rider Rachael Mrad.
