A university student from Nottingham has made shocking allegations that an Uber driver abandoned him to a violent assault, leaving him fearing for his life with fractured ribs.
The Night of the Violent Assault
Dale Williams, aged 30, had just finished work in Nottingham city centre on Monday, December 8. Shortly before midnight, he booked an Uber to travel to a friend's housewarming party in the Mapperley area.
During the journey, the ride was interrupted by another vehicle being driven erratically. After Mr Williams's Uber driver overtook this car, a confrontation escalated. The other motorist tailgated them, prompting the Uber driver to engage in dangerous 'brake-checking' manoeuvres.
"They pulled up next to us, and I stood between them and the driver," Mr Williams recounted. His attempt to defuse the situation backfired dramatically. "They turned on me instead, and I caught a punch to the face," he said.
"I Thought I Was Going to Die Here"
The situation rapidly deteriorated from a heated exchange into a brutal physical attack. A second man joined the assault, chasing Mr Williams down Blyth Street in Mapperley.
"He got me on the floor and started kicking and stomping on me and stuff," the student described. In a moment of sheer terror, he looked up from the pavement to see his Uber driver's vehicle speeding away from the scene.
"I thought I'm going to die here. I was on the floor getting laid into," Mr Williams stated. "He left me for dead. I was immediately trying to peace-keep. I hadn't been drinking or anything."
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations
Following the assault, Mr Williams sought medical attention. He sustained significant facial and arm bruising and was told he may have suffered two fractured ribs.
In the weeks since, he has expressed frustration with Uber's response. He claims the company has not assisted him in gathering evidence, has closed his case, and is withholding crucial route data that could help identify his attackers via CCTV. Furthermore, his Uber account has been blocked.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they were called to Blyth Street just before midnight on December 8. A spokesperson said: "Officers located the victim at a house party. Our records show that contact has been made with the victim. A number of lines of inquiry have already been established."
In a statement, an Uber spokesperson said: "What's been described has no place on the Uber app. Our specialist team is investigating the matter and the appropriate action will be taken with the driver. We take safety extremely seriously." The company added it stands ready to support the police investigation.
Mr Williams, however, remains concerned that without swift action, those responsible will evade justice.
