Utah Student Alleges Rape by Uber Driver on University Campus

Salt Lake Tribune is reporting today that a University of Utah student reported to campus police that she was raped by an Uber driver after requesting a ride on Monday. According to a probable cause statement, the 22-year-old student was picked up through the Uber app and taken to the southern area of campus near Research Park, where the driver allegedly stopped the vehicle, climbed into the backseat, and assaulted her.

Police say the student managed to exit the car after the attack and contacted a friend, who picked her up. She reported the incident shortly afterward. Investigators stated that there is substantial evidence supporting her account. The 39-year-old driver is not affiliated with the university as a student or employee. Officers identified him using the phone number associated with his Uber driver account and arrested him early Tuesday morning. His vehicle has been impounded while the investigation continues.

The student has already met with university victim support advocates. Police noted that they are following trauma informed protocols before scheduling a follow up interview. The suspect reportedly told officers he wished to return to Peru. He is currently being held in jail.

Uber issued a public statement calling the allegations “deeply disturbing,” adding that the company immediately removed the driver’s access to the platform and is assisting law enforcement. The rideshare giant has faced scrutiny for years over driver related sexual assaults. Unsealed records cited by The New York Times revealed more than 400,000 of sexual assault or sexual misconduct connected to Uber trips in the United States between 2017 and 2022, prompting heightened public concern and new legislative attention.

The report from the University of Utah campus has already prompted political reaction. Senator Mike Lee of Utah announced the Flight Risk Reduction Act, a bill intended to ensure that non United States citizens accused of certain crimes receive automatic detention hearings before they can leave the country. Although the senator’s announcement described the driver as a non citizen, the police report does not specify his immigration status. It only notes that he told officers he was born in Peru.

Uber is currently defending nearly 3,000 consolidated lawsuits in a federal multidistrict litigation, with hundreds more advancing in state courts. The first bellwether trial concluded with a jury finding Uber negligent but ultimately not liable, a result that disappointed survivor advocates and highlighted the challenges of proving corporate responsibility in rideshare assault cases. Additional bellwether trials are planned, and attorneys expect they will reveal more about Uber’s internal safety practices, driver screening systems, and its response to reported assaults.