Video shows Uber driver attacked by passenger

CHARLOTTE, NC — It was the ride from hell for Oswaldo Rivera.

It’s been nearly two weeks since Rivera was attacked by his Uber passenger. The attack was captured on video. It shows the man choking Rivera with his own seatbelt before Rivera was able to slip out.

The man in the backseat continues pulling back on the seatbelt. Rivera believes the man thought he was still choking his driver.

Rivera says he had only one thing on his mind during the attack.

“I just think about my my my my family, my my kids,” said Rivera.

The father of two tried driving to the police station in uptown Charlotte but couldn’t make it. Instead he stopped at the bus station on Trade Street. He says a security guard came to his aid but then that passenger turned his attention to the guard.

Rivera believes the attack was fueled by racism because of what happened in the first 15 seconds of their ride.

“When he hears my accent, he asked me, where are you from? And I said, I’m from Cuba. And he changed his tone and he said, what are you doing here?” Rivera said of the exchange.

According to Rivera, CMPD showed up that night and placed the man in cuffs but never arrested him. Rivera says that man has been free to roam the streets for weeks even with the damning evidence.

“Whether he was drunk or he was high, I don’t care. That’s not a reason to to kill another person,” explained Rivera.

Rivera got away with scratches and bruises. But he’s been unable to shake what’s happened. Going back to work has been tough.

“I can’t sleep, I can’t sleep because I repeating the same thing in my in my mind every night,” said Rivera.

Uber sent us this statement:

“We are horrified by this violent attack on a hard-working member of our driver community. We banned the rider from the Uber platform and have been in touch with the driver to offer support. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation.”

Rrivera says Uber also gave him $5,000 to help out with bills.

We reached out to CMPD, asking if there’s been an arrest in the case, we have not heard back.

Rivera’s family set up a fund to help with bills, medical expenses and legal fees. If you would like to donate, click here.