New York

Uber Passenger Leads Police on Chase While Driver Sleeps, Crashes Car: Police

Police said the driver asked Juan Carlos, of the Bronx, to take the wheel Saturday while he napped

An Uber passenger who took the wheel while the driver slept crashed in New York while trying to elude police, authorities said.

State police said 20-year-old New York City resident Juan Carlos hired the car in Philadelphia to take him 200 miles to central New York.

Police said the driver asked Carlos, of the Bronx, to take the wheel Saturday while he napped, and a trooper later clocked Carlos going 86 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 81 near Binghamton.

When the Uber driver woke up and asked Carlos why he was driving so fast, Carlos told him it was because police were chasing them and refused to pull over, authorities said. 

Carlos soon crashed into a guard rail, according to police. Both he and the Uber driver suffered minor injuries.

Carlos was charged with fleeing police and driving without a license. It wasn't clear if he has a lawyer.

Uber said both the driver and passenger have been suspended from using the ride-sharing service while the company investigates.

"We are reaching out to the authorities to assist in their investigation," Uber said. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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