A 61-year-old Uber driver is recovering after being brutally attacked by a passenger during a ride on Interstate 95, an assault captured in disturbing dashcam video.
Family members of the victim told NBC6 the driver, Diego Ruben Cariao Reyes Ortiz, was taking a passenger to Miami International Airport when the attack happened Friday during rush hour traffic.
The video shows a seemingly routine ride before the passenger, identified as 20-year-old Isaiah Norton, suddenly reaches forward from the back seat, grabs the driver and repeatedly punches him — all while the vehicle is moving.
Ortiz managed to pull over as Norton continued to hit, grab and scream at him. The driver eventually escaped the vehicle. Moments later, Norton is seen jumping into the front seat, apparently attempting to steal the car before fleeing.
Ortiz was taken to the hospital with bruises and other injuries. Photos shared with NBC6 show the extent of his injuries.
At Miami International Airport, drivers who watched the video expressed shock and concern.
“This is crazy. I would never do Uber,” one driver said.
Uber driver Nerio Oballaes said the video reflects the risks drivers face every day.
“It makes me very angry because it shows the insecurity that still exists even though I live here and work in this type of job,” Oballaes said in Spanish. “It scares me because this could happen to me.”
Norton remains in custody at the Joseph V. Conte Facility. He faces charges of battery and resisting an officer, according to authorities.
In a statement, Uber said Norton’s access to the app has been removed.
“We are deeply disturbed by this senseless attack. We removed the rider’s access to the app as soon as this was reported to us and stand ready to support law enforcement with their investigation. Uber is dedicated to the safety of drivers, and we have developed numerous in-app safety features over the years, from GPS tracking and rider verification badges to in-app audio recording. We remain dedicated to our work to help protect our communities.” An Uber spokesperson said.
Some drivers at the airport said more protections are still needed, including emergency features that allow real-time audio and video to be shared directly with law enforcement.
The victim’s family declined to speak on camera but said they chose to share the video in hopes of preventing similar attacks from happening to others.
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