An Uber driver's routine day took a perilous turn when, what began as a simple act of kindness—agreeing to transport a man and his bicycle—escalated into a harrowing episode of carjacking in West Covina, as confirmed by multiple sources. The encounter, which started in a gas station parking lot at 200 S. Azusa Avenue, rapidly spiraled out of control when the suspected carjacker seized control of the vehicle, taking off with the driver partially inside. CBS News Los Angeles reported details of the incident including the victim's initial refusal to give the suspect a ride, which ended in compliance.
Police stated that the suspect leveraged the opportunity, while placing his bike in the trunk, to commandeer the driver's seat and accelerate away. The Uber driver, in a desperate attempt to thwart the thief, ended up atop the perpetrator as the vehicle sped from the scene, with doors ajar. As told by the FOX LA coverage, the suspect brandished the threat of a crash to compel the driver to disengage— a threat that materialized seconds later in a collision with a utility pole. The suspect then fled on foot but was later apprehended at a nearby car dealership.
The West Covina Police Department's Instagram account also documented the incident, posting footage of the carjacking with a soundtrack of Kendrick Lamar's song "peekaboo," as noted by westcovinapd.
Officers searched the area and located the suspect at a nearby car dealership, where he was taken into custody, as shown in police body camera footage. It remains unclear whether the Uber driver sustained serious injuries, as detailed by KTLA.
