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California woman sues Uber alleging driver left her stranded before sexual assault

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California woman sues Uber alleging driver left her stranded before sexual assault


SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A California woman is suing San Francisco-based Uber, alleging the company was negligent after she was left alone by a driver and later sexually assaulted.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims the 23-year-old woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, called an Uber around 10 p.m. back in May 2025 to get home safely from a concert. After vomiting in the vehicle, the driver allegedly forced her out in a desolate area without her phone or a way to call for help.

Jane Doe’s attorneys say the incident highlights a broader issue with Uber’s policies and marketing practices, particularly toward passengers who have been drinking.

“It was a horrible thing that changed her life,” said Sarvenaz (Nazy) Fahimi, a partner at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP. “This never would have occurred had she not gotten into that Uber and the company handled the situation differently.”

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According to the complaint, Doe was approached by a man and a woman who offered her a ride home. Without her phone or any other option, she reluctantly accepted. However, instead of taking her home, Doe said she was taken to an apartment where she was sexually assaulted at knifepoint. She escaped the next morning through a window while her attacker was asleep.

MORE: Uber sexual assault survivors share their stories in hopes company will change safety protocols

“This never would have occurred had she not gotten into that Uber and the company handled the situation differently,” said Nazy Fahimi of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP.

The lawsuit argues that Uber profits from and targets intoxicated passengers, citing the company’s clean-up fee policy and surge charges during late-night hours, and marketing campaigns like “Decide to Ride,” which promotes ride-sharing as a safe option for those who have been drinking.

“Uber advertises safety, especially for passengers who have been drinking,” said attorney Regina Wang. “Yet it appears drivers are not required to ensure passengers reach their final destination.”

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Uber responded to the lawsuit in a statement to ABC7 News:

“What this individual experienced is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with them. While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we are committed to the safety and well-being of everyone who uses the Uber platform.”

MORE: South Bay pushes to require rideshare companies to report sexual assaults

Uber’s most recent U.S. Safety Report shows more than 2,700 sexual assaults were reported on the platform between 2021 and 2022, a 44% decline since it first started tracking in 2017. While most cases involve drivers and passengers directly, Doe’s attorneys argue the company is still responsible for what happened.

“Uber has a duty to safely transport its passengers,” Wang said. “They should be doing more to ensure their drivers are doing that.”

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The lawsuit alleges that the victim’s mother contacted Uber after the incident but was told the driver had not violated any policies. She was directed to generic sexual assault support resources.

The Sacramento Police Department confirm they are investigating the case but have not released suspect information.

Last month, Uber launched a “Women Preference” feature, allowing female drivers and passengers to opt into rides with other women.

Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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San Francisco, CA

Exclusive: San Francisco Police Department investigating Zoox collision with a parked car | TechCrunch

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Exclusive: San Francisco Police Department investigating Zoox collision with a parked car | TechCrunch


The San Francisco Police Department is investigating an accident involving a Zoox autonomous vehicle that crashed into the driver’s side door of a parked car, TechCrunch has learned.

Officers responded to the crash, which occurred at around 2 p.m. local time on January 17 near the intersection of 15th and Mission Streets, according to the department. The Zoox robotaxi was traveling along 15th street when a street ambassador named Jamel Durden opened the driver’s-side door of his 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, according to MissionLocal, which first reported the crash.

Durden’s hand was reportedly smashed during the crash, and the Zoox vehicle suffered damage to its glass doors. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) told TechCrunch the Zoox vehicle was carrying a passenger at the time, which has not been previously reported. That passenger was an employee of Zoox, according to the company, and was not injured, which the SFPD confirmed.

The police department declined to provide TechCrunch with an incident report “[d]ue to the fact it is still an open investigation.” Zoox filed its own police report about the incident, the company told TechCrunch, but said no additional details have been requested. In a statement on January 20, Zoox said it was “cooperating with local authorities to provide an accurate account of the incident.”

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The California Department of Motor Vehicles, which regulates autonomous vehicles in the state, has also met with Zoox about the January 17 crash. The DMV told TechCrunch that Zoox filed a crash report “in compliance with California regulations.” That report is not yet publicly available.

Zoox is in the early stages of building out its robotaxi service in San Francisco. In November, the company started offering free rides to members of the public who are part of the “Zoox Explorer” early-rider program. The company is operating a similar program in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This rollout has come with challenges. The Amazon-owned company issued a recall in December to fix an issue where some of its vehicles were crossing center lanes and blocking crosswalks. (Zoox also issued two different software updates during recalls earlier in 2025 before it started offering public rides.)

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The January crash in San Francisco happened when Durden “suddenly opened” the door of his car into the path of the robotaxi, according to Zoox. The company said the robotaxi “identified the opening door and tried to avoid it but contact was unavoidable.” (Durden’s employer could not be reached for comment.)

Zoox also said it offered medical attention to Durden, who allegedly declined. According to MissionLocal, Durden refused medical treatment until his car was towed.

“Safety and transparency are foundational to Zoox, and we are cooperating with local authorities to provide an accurate account of the incident,” the company said in a statement.

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Video: Mountain Lion Spotted in San Francisco

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Video: Mountain Lion Spotted in San Francisco


new video loaded: Mountain Lion Spotted in San Francisco

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Mountain Lion Spotted in San Francisco

Residents were shocked to see a young mountain lion roaming the streets of San Francisco this week. Local animal control agencies were able to capture and tranquilize it on Tuesday.

Swear to God, am I tripping? There’s a mountain lion. What is that? I can see it. Oh my God. What the. Dude!

Residents were shocked to see a young mountain lion roaming the streets of San Francisco this week. Local animal control agencies were able to capture and tranquilize it on Tuesday.

By Cynthia Silva

January 27, 2026



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Animal control locates mountain lion in San Francisco

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Animal control locates mountain lion in San Francisco


A young mountain lion that was spotted Monday night in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood has been located, city officials said.

Around 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, city officials said San Francisco Animal Care and Control found the mountain lion and that they are working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage the situation. No injuries were reported.

A biologist is on their way to the scene, with the plan to tranquilize the animal and move it to a suitable location, officials said.

The mountain lion was first reported Monday night after being seen near Octavia Street and Pacific Avenue, according to an alert from the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.

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Animal Care and Control officials said experts believe the animal is about a year old. It had also been seen earlier Monday morning near Lafayette Park, just a few blocks from the later sighting.

City officials said the mountain lion was likely lost and may have been trying to move south out of the city.



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