A rideshare driver's routine midnight pickup turned into a harrowing escape when he was targeted in an attempted carjacking, according to the Palo Alto Police Department. The incident, which took place early Monday morning, left the driver unharmed but shaken, as his black 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander sustained significant damage.
The driver, a man in his twenties, was en route to pick up a fare near the 800 block of Forest Avenue when another vehicle abruptly cut him off. Three men, described only as adult males, exited their older-model white minivan and aggressively approached the rideshare vehicle. One of the suspects was reported to have attempted to forcefully gain entry by pulling on the car's door handle while another brandished a long metal rod, striking the vehicle. The victim quickly maneuvered to safety, managing to elude the assailants after a perilous chase.
According to the Palo Alto Police Department, the victim recounted the terror of the ordeal, describing how he had to lock himself inside his car to avoid confrontation quickly. One of the suspects "yelled at him to get out of his car," while the other instigated the violent attack against his car. This account paints a picture of the rash violence that unfolded in the quiet Palo Alto streets that night.
The suspects’ vehicle eventually turned off from the pursuit, and the driver, still in shock and unfamiliar with the area, managed to call the police for help. The authorities have yet to apprehend the suspects, described by the victim as a Black male trying to open the driver's side door, an unknown race bald male wielding the metal rod, and a third unknown race male. The investigators are now calling on the public to assist in tracking down these suspects, believed to have been driving a possible Toyota Sienna or Kia Sedona.
Palo Alto detectives are actively working the case, considering robbery and carjacking as potential motives. Police reports noted that this incident seems to be an outlier, as no similar crimes have recently been reported. Anyone with information can contact the Palo Alto 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413 or send anonymous tips to [email protected].
