Gaby Acevedo reporting on an Uber driver attacked on the job in Queens.
Authorities were looking for a woman who forced her way into an Uber vehicle as the driver was picking up a passenger — then punched the driver and pushed him out of his car before driving it away herself, according to police.
The 52-year-old driver was picking someone up on 86th Avenue in Queens around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, when the woman grabbed at the open door. Video shows her hang on and fling herself in the vehicle.
Cops say she punched the driver in the face and body multiple times and bit him on the back before throwing him out. She sped off west on 86th Avenue in Bellrose, then collided into multiple parked cars and a tree just half of a block away from the initial scene, police say.
The woman abandoned the vehicle and ran off in an unknown direction. Police released surveillance video of the suspect.
The victim was taken to a hospital in stable condition. He later told News 4 he is physically OK, but remains emotionally affected by the attack and has not been able to work since the car sustained extensive damage. He says he doesn't know the woman or why she attacked him.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox.> Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
