In what has become a disturbingly frequent trend around the world, yet another driver for the Uber ride-sharing service has been charged with a litany of crimes, including rape and kidnapping.
This latest incident happened in the Boston area, where earlier this month at least two other women reported being assaulted after they ordered Uber rides in the city, according to police there.
Today, the Boston Globe reports that driver Alejandro Done, 46, is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to charges of rape, assault to rape, kidnapping, and two counts of assault and battery.
Prosecutors say Done picked up a woman in Cambridge the evening of Dec. 6 and then told her she needed to pay him in cash, so he drove her to an ATM. After she got back in the car, Done allegedly drove to a secluded area, got into the back of the car with the woman, and then strangled and sexually assaulted her, officials say.
The woman reported the attack to Cambridge police, who tracked Done through Uber records. The woman also identified Done as her assailant, prosecutors said.
An Uber spokeswoman called the incident a "despicable crime" and said they are cooperating with the investigation. It's yet another black eye in what has been a banner week for Uber; the service was slammed over the weekend after turning on increased "surge pricing" for people attempting to flee the hostage situation in Sydney.