A rideshare driver was stabbed in the torso after a passenger allegedly tried to pay with counterfeit cash on a night trip through the Bronx, and now police are hunting for the woman they say did it. The attack happened around 9:20 p.m. on Aug. 15 on East 215th Street between White Plains Road and Holland Avenue, leaving the driver hospitalized before the suspect vanished on foot into the neighborhood.
The NYPD is searching for 31-year-old Makenda Hazel in connection with the stabbing, according to PIX11. Police say Hazel tried to pay for the ride with counterfeit U.S. currency, and a dispute broke out between her and the driver as a result. During that argument, police allege Hazel stabbed the driver on the right side of the torso before fleeing.
Officers say Hazel ran south on Holland Avenue toward East 213th Street after the stabbing, disappearing into the surrounding blocks. EMS transported the driver to a local hospital, where the victim was listed in stable condition. Police describe Hazel as standing around 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds, and the NYPD has released a photo of her as the search continues.
Other Attacks on Rideshare Drivers
This is not the first time a rideshare driver in the Bronx has been attacked mid-shift. Just months earlier, in late November, a 39-year-old male rideshare driver identified as Osei Kusi was stabbed multiple times in the Bronx in an incident that did not involve a passenger and appeared to involve road rage with another vehicle, according to NY1. Kusi, who drove for both Lyft and Uber, was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in critical condition and underwent surgery; officials said no arrests had been made and that the investigation was still ongoing at the time.
Farther from the city, a Lyft driver was stabbed by a passenger in Darien, Connecticut, in an attack that ended with the driver crashing into a tree to stop the assault, per ABC7 New York. That victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and Lyft said it permanently removed the rider's account from its platform while assisting law enforcement with the investigation. The two cases underscore the risks drivers face, though the available evidence does not establish a broader trend tying these incidents together.
How to Report Information on the Search for Hazel
Police have asked anyone with information about the Aug. 15 stabbing to come forward. Tips can be submitted to NYPD Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577, or by visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org. Spanish-speaking callers can reach Crime Stoppers at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), and Crime Stoppers also offers a mobile app for submitting tips.
