World Courant
A Lyft driver was attacked by a passenger who choked him together with his personal seatbelt as he was taking the assailant to their vacation spot in Harris County, Texas.
Driver Kehinde Ayoola stated he might by no means once more work ride-share or really feel snug driving in any respect after he was choked by a passenger whereas driving down the freeway. He stated he hopes this incident will lead the corporate to make coverage adjustments to guard different drivers.
“He was attempting to kill me,” Ayoola informed Fox 26.
“I believed perhaps ‘I am dying.’ I stated ‘Okay, let me simply battle for my life,'” he added.
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A Lyft driver was attacked by a passenger who choked him together with his personal seatbelt as he was taking the assailant to their vacation spot in Harris County, Texas. (Getty)
Ramiro Vella is charged with Aggravated Assault in reference to the assault.
When Ayoola arrived at a hospital to select up Vella for what Ayoola says he believes was a hospital-ordered journey, the driving force noticed the person standing with three hospital staff as he was fidgeting and behaving oddly.
“He was shifting throughout, trying, trying as if he was searching for one thing. So, I stated ‘Is that this man okay?’ The safety guard stated sure,” Ayoola recalled.
Shortly after the passenger entered his automobile, he began speaking to himself earlier than beating his chest, Ayoola stated.
Vella at one level slid over within the backseat to the seat behind Ayoola.
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Driver Kehinde Ayoola stated he might by no means once more work ride-share or really feel snug driving in any respect after he was choked by a passenger whereas driving down the freeway. (Getty)
“So, I stated ‘Hey, are you okay?’ and he took my seatbelt and wrapped it round my neck, choking me,” Ayoola stated.
Ayoola stated he was driving 65 miles per hour on Freeway 290 when Vella was choking him so exhausting that his nostril and eyes started to run. Ayoola then tried placing his fingers between his neck and the seatbelt.
“After I was attempting, my shoulder was actually damage and my leg, once I was steering with my leg, and I used to be preventing for my life,” Ayoola stated, noting that he was capable of unfasten his seatbelt.
Vella then used his arm to place Ayoola in a chokehold.
Ramiro Vella is charged with Aggravated Assault for attacking the Lyft driver. (Picture Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Pictures/LightRocket )
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Ayoola pulled his automobile over to the facet of the street, and Vella kicked the again window till the body popped out. Vella then kicked a dent into the again of the car and opened the trunk. Ayoola stated he believes his passenger was trying to find a weapon.
Investigators stated Vella then ran to a home and commenced yelling and attempting to enter. The house owner referred to as 911 and Vella was arrested.
“I simply thank God. It is a miracle from God that I’m alive,” Ayoola stated. “It was actually scary, actually scary.”
Ayoola stated he hopes ride-share companies will intently overview this incident and make some coverage adjustments, notably when drivers are despatched to select up a “hospital-ordered” passenger.
