Uber driver fights off carjacker in Lancaster, police say

An Uber driver and his passenger were the targets of an attempted carjacking and armed robbery in Lancaster this week, with the driver physically fighting off one suspect.

The Lancaster Police Department responded to a 911 call about the incident just before 1 a.m. Thursday morning. It occurred on Seven Bridge Road, or Route 117, near the Bolton town line, according to a release from the department.

Officers were told that an Uber driver and his passenger stopped in the middle of the road in order to remove a tree limb that was blocking their way. Suddenly two males emerged from the woods, one on each side of the vehicle. One had a firearm, police said.

The unarmed suspect got into the driver’s seat, while the armed suspect attempted to enter the backseat. He opened the door, pointed his gun at the passenger, and demanded that she hand over her phone and get out of the vehicle, police said. She exited the vehicle and attempted to flee, according to police.

The Uber driver “physically confronted” the suspect that was in the driver’s seat, forcibly removing him from the vehicle. The driver located his passenger and both left the area unharmed. They then called police, according to officials.

The suspects are described as two Hispanic males “of smaller stature.” One had “puffy hair consistent with an afro.” He wore sweatpants and no shirt. Police did not publish any other identifiable information about the pair.

The incident is under investigation.

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