QCOSTARICA – A Uber driver was rescued by the Fuerza Publica (police) from being beaten by a group formal taxi driver after pursuing him, before noon on Saturday, in Esparza.
Uber confirmed on Sunday that the 38 year old driver, a resident of Cartago, identified by his last name Saavedra in one of their partners. Uber calls its drivers ‘socio-collaboradores’ or partners.
According to Transito (traffic official) Rafael Jimenez Varela, it was about 11:00am Saturday when they received the alert of the chase and the crash of several vehicles.
The police report says the chase began in Puntarenas, from where Saavedra left for Esparza. He was alone in the vehicle, it is not known if the driver had dropped off up a fare at the port city, but on the way from Puntarenas, in the area of Esparza, where he is based, being followed by some 40 taxi drivers, he crashed into a pick-up truck.
This is when the mob of taxi drivers began their attack against the Uber driver’s car, damaging the windshield, hood, fenders, driver door and other parts of the vehicle.
Police had him in custody to protect him from the mob of taxi drivers. The traffic police towed the vehicle to prevent any further damage from the mob.
“Uber strongly condemns any act of violence that threatens our socios-colaboradores (partners). We will assist in whatever is necessary for our partner to overcome this difficult time. We trust that authorities will take immediate action against those involved in this unprecedented case,” said Julie Robinson, Uber Communications Manager Central America and the Caribbean.
Similarly, she said that Uber will contact the authorities to provide any information relevant to the investigation, in order that these violent acts do not go unpunished.
Source: La Nacion