People utilize Uber and Lyft and other rideshare services when they have had too much to drink. This is a good thing, as some studies indicate that the presence of these services has had an effect on the numbers of people who are caught drinking and driving. It goes without saying that these drivers are expected to be sober themselves. However, at times, even those expected to be sober make mistakes. NBC Los Angeles reports on a fatal accident in which a Lyft driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
Early Friday morning saw a Lyft driver and another motorist both being arrested for driving under the influence.
The arrests came after a 3:55 a.m. head-on accident near Logan Square in Chicago.
25-year-old Travis Anderson was driving a Toyota Avalon Humboldt Boulevard when he crossed over the center line and struck 32-year-old Elizabeth Renter, a Lyft driver, head-on. At the time of the accident, Renter was driving a Toyota Camry and was carrying two passengers.
One of those passengers, 23-year-old Anudari Bayaraa, was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead. The second passenger, identified only as a 31-year-old male, was also taken to the hospital with injuries.
Renter was taken to a separate hospital in serious condition. Anderson was also taken to the same hospital as Renter, although he was taken into custody as well.
Anderson has been charged with a felony count of aggravated driving under the influence causing death and misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and a drug.
Renter was also charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence. Lyft has deactivated Renter from their service.
