NORTHVILLE, Mich. – A Westland woman claims she was groped by an Uber driver over the weekend after she ordered a ride from Walled Lake to Novi.
Jennifer Bridges, 35, said her cellphone was dead, so she couldn't call for help. She said she broke her foot as she tried to escape the man, who was kissing and groping her.
After she ran away, she was afraid the driver would return, so she limped to a gas station, where a woman helped her.
Bridges said she's recovering from the trauma of the attack, and it will take months for her foot to heal.
"I didn't see it coming," Bridges said. "I was shocked. He threw himself on me with both hands on my chest and he was kissing my neck."
Bridges said she was sitting in the front passenger seat when the driver became aggressive.
"I fell out of the car, knew my foot was hurt," Bridges said. "Basically fighting him off and opening the door and falling out of the car."
Around 8 a.m. Sunday, the Westland woman called for an Uber after spending the previous night with friends in Walled Lake. It was supposed to be a 7-mile drive to Novi.
"The Uber driver acted like he was confused and lost," Bridges said.
Near 5 Mile Road and Centennial Drive, the driver pulled over and assaulted her. After Bridges managed to fight him off and get out of the car, the man drove away.
With a broken foot, Bridges walked to the nearest gas station, which was more than a mile away.
"I felt like I could've run until my foot fell off," Bridges said. "I didn't care."
She wants others to learn from her experience.
"Try not to take any transportation with strangers, because you don't know what they're capable of," Bridges said.
Northville Township police are investigating the incident. Bridges gave them the man's license plate and his information from Uber. At one point, he let Bridges use his phone, so police have that information, as well.
The man is in his 60s and lives in Metro Detroit.