A 61-year-old Uber driver was assaulted by a passenger while driving on Interstate 95. Dashcam footage obtained by NBC6 shows the driver, Diego Ruben Cariao Reyes Ortiz, attacked by 20-year-old passenger Isaiah Norton during a trip to Miami International Airport. Norton is seen striking Ortiz multiple times from the back seat while the vehicle was in motion.
After Ortiz managed to pull over, the assailant continued the attack, attempted to hijack the vehicle, and then fled the scene. Ortiz sustained bruises and other injuries and was hospitalized. The family shared the dashcam video to raise awareness about violence against drivers. According to NBC6, fellow Uber drivers at Miami International Airport expressed shock and concern over the incident.
The suspect, Isaiah Norton, was arrested and is being held at the Joseph V. Conte Facility, facing charges of battery and resisting an officer. Uber has revoked Norton’s access to its app and emphasized its commitment to driver safety, noting features such as GPS tracking and rider verification badges.
Additional dashcam footage shared by WSVN, though without audio, shows Norton pausing to laugh before continuing the attack. The video captures Norton holding Cariao by the shirt as the car rolls backward and telling the victim that “no one is going to help.” Cariao’s children have used social media to advocate for increased protections for Uber drivers.
The victim’s family has not spoken publicly but has expressed a desire for stronger safety measures for rideshare drivers. Uber told WSVN that it remains concerned about the incident and committed to driver safety. Norton’s bond was set at $1,000 after he failed to appear in court. He remains in jail facing charges related to the assault.
