On August 10, 2019, a 25-year-old female reported that she believed she had been sexually assaulted by her Lyft ride share driver.
The driver is identified as 46-year-old Tonye Kolokolo. Lyft says it immediately deactivated the driver and is working to assist authorities in the investigation.
The victim reported that she ordered a ride from Lyft the previous evening while intoxicated at a bar in the City of San Mateo, California. Sometime after being picked up by the driver, the victim believed that she passed out in the backseat of the Lyft vehicle.
The driver is accused of then taking the victim to his residence in the city of Tracy without her request or permission, where it is alleged that he had non-consensual sexual intercourse with her.
Tonye was subsequently arrested and booked for charges related to false imprisonment and rape.
In order to work for Lyft, drivers must pass a comprehensive background check that also includes driving records. Lyft says it also employs continuous criminal monitoring that provides the company with immediate notification of any disqualifying criminal convictions.
