Transport company Lyft has taken action after a North Carolina teen girl was hospitalized when she jumped out of a moving Lyft vehicle because she got scared of the driver.
According to a report from Durham station ABC 11, Eziya Bowden was taking the Lyft home last week from work when she jumped out as the car was still moving. The 17-year-old Raleigh native explained to the news station that the unidentified Lyft driver made her feel scared by both his questions and actions.
She ended up in the emergency department of a hospital after jumping from the moving Lyft vehicle in the 7300 block of Fox Road, which is located a few miles from her house. It happened so fast for the teen, who said she blacked out after opening the door of the vehicle.
Bowden fortunate not to suffer broken bones in the fall
Bowden said she only remembered where she landed and how scared she was with the experience and crying about it. Fortunately for the teenager, she is safely back at home. She did suffer some injuries from the fall but Bowden had no broken bones.
Bowden said she first became alarmed by the Lyft driver when he allegedly made comments about her appearance. She recounted to ABC 11 that the driver asked her right away how many boys flirted with her?
The driver then made comments that made Bowden uncomfortable, such as that he would date her if she was not so young and how she looks good. Bowden then claimed that the Lyft driver sprayed an unidentified substance into the vehicle, according to Local 12.
No charges filed thus far according to Raleigh cops
Bowden knew that she was not going crazy or anything and she knew that her body had never felt like that before. She added that she had seen a lot of this so she knew she was feeling drugged.
She had a reaction soon after, which the media outlet described as dizzy and warm. Fearing that her life was in danger, Bowden decided to jump out of the moving car.
Lyft issued a statement to PEOPLE Magazine regarding the incident, saying that safety is fundamental to them and the behavior described by Bowden is deeply concerning. The company added that they have been in touch with the rider's family to offer their support.
They have also removed the driver's access to the Lyft platform, and they stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation.
Bowden, who said in the interview that she will never take an Uber or Lyft again, was not satisfied with the company's response. She said that she does not think that is stopping him from anything else and it does not really bring her peace at all.
According to Raleigh police, there are no charges being filed in the incident involving Bowden and the Lyft driver.
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