A Colorado rideshare driver may be facing charges after the passenger he left on the side of a highway was struck and killed.
(Video: KUSA-TV)
Just after midnight on New Year’s Day, a publicly unidentified woman and some friends had been picked up by an Uber driver in Thornton, Colorado, north of Denver. However, their night of celebration turned to tragedy when, according to Thornton Police Department spokesman Officer Jesus Mendez, she “became ill” and the passengers were left on the side of Interstate 25.
The woman’s friends witnessed as she stepped out into traffic and was sideswiped by a pickup truck causing her to fall where she was then struck by a car and killed. Another witness, identified as Roxy, spoke with KUSA-TV and told the outlet as she was driving, “I just couldn’t believe it. The truck in front of me swerved, but when he swerved a little bit, it still hit her, and she kind of, she just flew up.”
The deceased has yet to be identified as authorities attempt to notify next of kin. But the identity of the pickup driver was said to be 33-year-old Adam Wooley of Frederick, Colorado who was arrested Monday and charged with one count of a hit-and-run involving death after turning himself in, whereas the driver of the second vehicle who stopped and cooperated with law enforcement was not charged.
Please see the attached News Release and arrestee photo reference the New Year’s Day auto/pedestrian fatal accident. pic.twitter.com/wDiFpir8xI
— Thornton Police Dept (@ThorntonPolice) January 2, 2023
At this point, it remains unclear whether the rideshare driver will face any charges and attorney Jonathon Douglas of Denver Personal Injury Lawyers told KCNC-TV that while criminal charges are unlikely, he could face civil action.
“It appears that this woman was left on the side of the road, and not just the road, I-25. That’s pretty shocking,” he said before asking, “Was it proper or was it negligent that this driver left their rider on the side of I-25?”
“We’re not quite sure exactly what happened in that rideshare,” Douglas said, “but we’ve got a scenario where it needs to be investigated.”
Legal analyst Scott Robinson of KUSA-TV contended the same when he said, “Leaving an individual who doesn’t feel well off on the side of an interstate highway is certainly morally reprehensible and it also could very well give rise to civil liability.”
In speaking with The Denver Post, Officer Mendez referred to the rideshare as an Uber, but did not reveal the identity of the driver who has been fully cooperating as he stated, “We are trying to complete the rest of our investigation.”
A spokesman for Uber emailed the Post and said they had “not been able to confirm that this incident happened on an Uber trip ordered through the Uber app.”
Regardless, Michael McManus, a Dillon, Colorado-based Uber driver with 17,000 trips told KCNC-TV “Whether or not this is criminal by this driver, it’s just something that a normal human being just doesn’t do.”
“There may be more to it than we know, but my experience says we gotta care, we have somebody’s life in our hands,” he added and relayed, “Uber tells you if you feel unsafe you can drop the passenger off, but I don’t believe they tell you you can do so on the side of a busy interstate.”
Republished with permission from American Wire News Service
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Illegal immigrant from Russia celebrates NYC exit: ‘They give me ticket for free to Chicago!’ - April 17, 2024
- NPR’s Uri Berliner resigns – blasts CEO who sees 1st Amendment used to defend old posts as ‘a challenge’ - April 17, 2024
- ‘Pretty scary’: Local leaders respond to chaos of San Diego area beaches being rushed by illegal migrants - April 17, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
