An Uber ride in Miami ended with one passenger in the hospital and another in jail after what police say started as an argument over opening a beer inside the vehicle.
Lynn Marie Zamora, 32, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after investigators say she stabbed her friend with a pair of scissors when he repeatedly told her she could not drink alcohol during the ride.
The pair had called an Uber from the Best Western Plus Kendall Hotel & Suites and were headed to another friend’s home when Zamora allegedly decided she wanted to open a beer, an arrest report obtained by Law & Crime states. The victim told deputies he reminded her several times that alcohol was not allowed inside the rideshare vehicle before the disagreement escalated.
Authorities allege Zamora then pulled a pair of scissors from her bag and stabbed the man once in the left bicep and once in the left calf. The Uber driver pulled over, called 911, and remained at the scene while deputies responded.
The Argument Started Over an Uber Rule
The victim said Zamora became irritated after he repeatedly told her she could not drink the beer inside the vehicle.
Uber’s community guidelines prohibit passengers from bringing open containers of alcohol into vehicles or consuming alcohol during trips. The company instructs riders not to bring illegal drugs or open containers of alcohol into a car while using the platform.
Investigators say that policy was at the center of the disagreement, but the situation quickly became far more serious.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for stab wounds to his left bicep and left calf. The Uber driver also confirmed the victim’s account to deputies, People reported.
Prosecutors Pointed to Her Criminal History
Zamora was arrested and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
During her first court appearance, her attorney asked that she be allowed to receive treatment at a hospital. Prosecutors opposed the request and sought a monetary bond, arguing that Zamora posed a flight risk because of her criminal history.
Prosecutors told the court Zamora was already on probation in a separate battery case involving a victim over the age of 65. They also referenced prior convictions involving battery on a law enforcement officer and written threats to kill while arguing against her release, NBC6 South Florida reported.
The judge denied the request for immediate hospital treatment and set bond at $7,500.
Miami-Dade Corrections records show Zamora remained in custody on the aggravated battery charge. The booking record also notes a separate probation case involving battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
A Tough Month for Florida Rideshare Drivers
This was not the first unusual incident involving a Florida rideshare driver this month.
Earlier in July, a Port St. Lucie rideshare driver found an unconventional way to end a trip after police say a passenger refused to stop inhaling nitrous oxide from a large cylinder inside the vehicle.
The driver reportedly asked the woman to stop and then told her to leave the car. When she allegedly refused, the driver bypassed her destination and drove directly to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.
Officers said they found the passenger still sitting inside the vehicle and continuing to inhale nitrous oxide after arriving at police headquarters. She was arrested on charges including inhaling nitrous oxide for the purpose of becoming intoxicated and resisting an officer without violence.
The two cases are unrelated, but both placed rideshare drivers in situations they likely never expected when they accepted the fare. In Port St. Lucie, the driver headed directly to a police station. In Miami, the driver stopped the trip and called 911 after authorities said an argument turned violent.
Uber Says the Rider Has Been Banned
Uber told NBC6 that the rider had been removed from the platform.
“This behavior is alarming and has no place on the Uber platform,” a company spokesperson said. “We banned the rider from the app and stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation.”
Zamora’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 12.
Zamora is accused of a crime and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.