A 27-year-old Memphis woman says what should have been a routine Lyft ride home from the emergency room turned into a nightmare scenario when she climbed into a stranger’s pickup truck outside Baptist Memorial Hospital, thinking it was her ride. The woman, who identified herself as Lotus Lee, told reporters she grew suspicious only after texts from the actual Lyft driver came through saying he was still looking for her. She sprinted into a nearby IHOP to wait for help, and police are now investigating.
Speaking with WREG, Lee said she had been in the ER for hours with abdominal pain when she ordered a Lyft to leave the hospital. When a dark copper pickup rolled up outside the ER, she assumed it was her ride and got in. A short time later, messages from the driver listed in her app popped up, saying he was at the pickup spot and searching for her.
Lee told the station the man behind the wheel of the pickup was tall and heavyset. She said she asked him to take her to an IHOP with a well-lit parking lot and a security guard, looking for a destination that felt safer than being dropped off alone in the dark.
How She Escaped
Lee told WREG that the texts from her real driver set off alarm bells. “I kind of started getting alarmed,” she said. At that point, she said she yanked open the truck door, jumped out, and ran straight into the IHOP.
Inside the restaurant, Lee ordered another Lyft and waited until she felt safe before calling police, according to what she told the station. She said the scare has completely changed how she uses rideshares and that she now checks every license plate before getting into any vehicle.
Police Investigation and Tip Line
Lee contacted police after the encounter, and officers opened an investigation into what happened outside the hospital. Investigators are asking anyone who might know something about the incident to come forward.
Crime Stoppers of Memphis and Shelby County is taking anonymous tips at 901-528-CASH and through its website, Crime Stoppers, officials say.
Rideshare Safety Tips
Rideshare companies urge riders to slow things down for a few seconds before opening the door to any car. Riders are advised to confirm the driver’s name, photo, and license plate in the app and make sure all of it matches the vehicle in front of them. Lyft lists step-by-step verification tips on its safety page.
If the driver or car does not match what appears in the app, or if something simply feels off, riders are encouraged to refuse the ride, call 911 if they feel they are in danger and report the situation to the company through the app or help center.
Why It Matters
Posing as a rideshare driver is not just creepy, it is a tactic that has been tied to serious crimes in other cities. In one Miami Beach case, a man allegedly pretended to be an Uber driver and assaulted a passenger, according to CBS Miami.
Cases like that have put extra focus on simple, low-tech safety moves such as checking the license plate and confirming the driver through the app before you get in. Those few seconds in the parking lot can be a first line of defense for riders.
