MIAMI (WSVN) - A Lyft driver was assaulted by three men in Miami, police said, leaving the victim bloody and bruised.
According to City of Miami Police, Iohan Sanchez was beaten by three of his passengers near Northwest 27th Avenue and 35th Street, at around 7 a.m., Saturday.
Speaking through a translator, the victim described his injuries to 7News.
“I have an injury on my hand. Fire rescue paramedics bandaged my hand. I have a cut in my mouth and my face,” he said.
The ride-share driver said the assailants roughed him up after he asked them not to smoke in his car.
“They know what they did wrong. God will do justice,” he said. “They had no reason to do this to me. Simply, I asked them to not smoke inside my car, and they were beyond aggressive.”
Sanchez said the subjects fled the scene.
“I tried to get in the car and leave. I turned around and called the police, and I don’t know where they went,” he said.
Police were unable to find the men, either.
Sanchez said he couldn’t reach the staff at the ride-share company.
“I know it’s not easy. Uber and Lyft drivers work hard and are surrounded by dangerous people daily,” he said. “At times, you come across cases like this.”
Saturday afternoon, a spokesperson for Lyft released a statement that reads in part, “Assault of any kind is not tolerated on the Lyft platform. We have permanently removed the rider from the Lyft community, have reached out to the driver to offer our support.”
The Lyft spokesperson added they are working with law enforcement to help find the passengers in Sanchez’s car and bring them to justice.
The incident remains under investigation.
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