Mama always told us not to get in the car with strangers.
After a woman in Atlanta was allegedly beaten by an Uber driver, with a brutal black eye to prove so, it seems like Mama’s instincts were right.
Uber has rolled out quite a few new security measures in hopes to keep their customers safe but there is still not much anyone can do to protect unsuspecting riders against unpredictable drivers.
Anna Armas and Hanna Gordola did not expect this to happen when they requested an Uber ride on Saturday. On the way to their destination, Armas noticed that her Uber driver, Mr. Yero Bandele, was not taking the direct route. It is noted in the police notes that “Armas asked the driver why he was going ‘the long way’ which led to an argument.”
Driving “the long way” is a common practice in the driving services industry for those who hope to snag some extra fare from riders. Drivers simply take a longer route than necessary in order to increase the numbers on their driving meters. Therefore, making the customer pay more than what is necessary. It is important to note, however, that Uber is designed to help protect riders from the usual “taxi cab scam.”
After confronted, Mr. Bandele demanded the two women to get out of the car. An altercation broke out when Anna called him a “dumbass”.
Mr. Bandele told her to say it again and allegedly punched her dead in the eye when she did. He quickly hopped in his car and drove off.
“Beaten in her face by a man, brutally.” Armas’ attorney Sandy Becher states. “Savage beating”.
Mr. Bandele recalls a different story though.
He claims Anna Armas slapped him after calling him a variety of dehumanizing names. He says he never punched her; just pushed. He does not want to press charges.
According to 11Alive, Uber responded by suspending the driver’s app and looking into the matter. Armas and Gordola still plan to hold Uber accountable.
“She is unable to talk. She’s very traumatized. She’s injured both physically and psychologically,” Armas’ attorney states.
The women claim that they have videos of the incident, which would be powerful evidence in a case against the Uber driver. It’s unclear, however, if the women will actually have a case against the tech giant since there doesn’t seem to be any negligence on Uber’s behalf.
Only time will tell.
