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A Toronto mother faced every parent’s worst fear when an Uber driver unknowingly drove off with her 5-year-old daughter asleep in the backseat. What followed was a frustrating ordeal where the ride-sharing giant allegedly refused to provide immediate assistance to the distraught mother or Toronto police.
Terrifying Ride Home Turns to Panic
Julia (CBC is only using her first name to protect the identity of her daughter), along with her boyfriend and their children, were taking an Uber after a Toronto Raptors game. Her daughter fell asleep during the ride. Upon arriving at their destination, while the couple was unloading, the Uber driver drove away – with the sleeping child still inside.
“I’m returning to the road and I realized the car, it’s gone,” she said. “I remember looking up and down the street. I don’t see a moving vehicle at all… ‘Why did he leave with her? Where did he go?'”
Uber’s Lack of Assistance Condemned
According to Julia, Uber customer service allegedly refused to directly contact the driver, citing company protocols. This lack of immediate assistance left Julia feeling helpless and forced her to contact 911.
“All we wanted was for them to contact the driver — that’s it — and they refused,” Julia stated. “This was not a purse or a phone left behind. It was a five-year-old child…”
Toronto police confirmed that Uber did not directly assist in locating the child. Officers managed to contact the driver independently.
Child Found Safe, But Questions Remain
Thankfully, after about an hour and a half, police located the child, unharmed but distressed, approximately 20 kilometers away. The driver was unaware the child was still in the vehicle.
Uber provided a statement saying that the safety of everyone who uses the platform is the company’s top priority and that they are reviewing the incident.
Gig Economy Under Scrutiny
Technology analyst Carmi Levy highlighted the incident as an example of the potential downsides of the gig economy. “There’s a cost to their efficiency and their cost effectiveness. And that cost is if something goes wrong, it isn’t as easy as just calling a phone number and getting help.”
Mother Demands Policy Changes
Julia is now calling for Uber to revise its emergency response procedures, particularly when minors are involved. She is seeking a commitment from the company to prevent similar situations in the future. “No one should have to go through what we went through,” she said.
Source: Nicole Brockbank, CBC News