What should have been a routine two-hour Uber ride for a university student turned into what her mother describes as a parent’s worst nightmare. The young woman, a student at Delaware State University, was traveling to her sister’s home in Maryland to catch a flight when her trip took a dangerous and frightening turn.
About 25 to 30 minutes into the ride, the student noticed the driver’s behavior change. For legal reasons TNN will not identify the mother and daughter as there is an investigation ongoing by US authorities.
“He started swerving into the other lane, and when I looked in the mirror, he appeared to be falling asleep,” she recalled. “That’s when I called my mom and asked her to stay on the phone with me.”
At her mother’s suggestion, she asked the driver to stop for coffee to regain alertness. But instead of complying, the driver unexpectedly canceled the Uber trip and demanded cash payment in order to continue. The situation escalated when the driver veered off familiar routes, taking her through isolated back roads surrounded by cornfields, far from streetlights or houses.
“I travel this route often to my sister’s house, so I knew this wasn’t the normal way,” she explained. “It was pitch black, no houses, no lights—definitely not the usual route. That’s when my fear really set in.”
Meanwhile, her mother, calling from Bermuda, was monitoring her daughter’s location through the Uber app.
“Inside I was panicking, but I knew I had to stay calm to keep her calm,” the mother said. “I tracked her location, I could see when the driver skipped a turn, and my heart was racing. I just wanted to get her somewhere safe, with people around.”
When the student finally reached a gas station, it was closed—leaving her with no safe place to exit. The driver pulled over shortly afterward, further alarming both mother and daughter. He refused to restart the ride through Uber and instead demanded direct payment.
“At that point, it felt like extortion,” the mother said. “We were already coordinating with police while keeping him on the road so they could intercept the vehicle.”
The situation grew even more frightening when the driver activated the child lock, preventing the student from escaping the car. State troopers eventually intercepted the vehicle after tracking her live location. But even then, tensions rose.
“I could hear the police asking him to roll down his window,” her mother recalled. “When they asked if he had a female passenger, he suddenly screamed, ‘You called the police!’ That’s when I was shouting at my daughter, ‘Get out of the car!’ But she couldn’t—the child lock was on.”
Thankfully, officers were able to intervene and release the student from the vehicle. The mother described the moment as overwhelming.
“When she finally got out, I think my whole being stopped. My heart stopped. My breathing stopped. It was like something out of a lifetime movie. The relief was indescribable.”
The family later filed police reports and retraced the route, confirming how isolated and unsafe the journey had become.
For this family, Uber had always been a trusted form of transportation.
“My daughter has been in the U.S. about seven years and has taken over 100 Ubers without incident,” her mother said. “This was the first time anything like this ever happened. We never imagined it could go this wrong.”
When asked what advice she would give to other parents and students, the mother emphasized vigilance and preparation.
“Always share your location with someone you trust. Send the driver’s details before you get in. Stay on the phone with someone during long trips, and if something feels wrong, don’t hesitate to call 911 immediately. You can never be too careful.”
What began as an ordinary ride quickly became a harrowing reminder of the risks of ride-share travel. For one student and her mother, the night was a test of faith, composure, and quick action—one that, thankfully, ended safely.
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