Women abandoned by Uber driver on Collier County road

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NAPLES, Fla. Think twice before ordering a ride.

Three women were left stranded on the side of the road Monday night after their Uber driver abandoned them.

Rachelle Tessmer and two other friends began their Uber ride to the Seminole Casino in Immokalee as normal.

“We did a little small talk (with the driver) like, ‘Oh what’s your name?’ We were just trying to be friendly, introduce ourselves, and saying we’re going to the casino to celebrate our friend’s birthday and he seemed fine,” she said.

But when they started singing along to the radio and taking pictures, the night took a turn for the worst.

“He began to seem agitated, he started to swerve, started to slam on his brakes, he was turning his music up and down,” Tessmer said.

When the driver, known only as Alberto, noticed the women exchanging worried looks, he asked them if they wanted to see crazy. He then slammed on his brakes so hard, the women flew into the front seats.

Shortly after, Alberto violently pulled over to the side of the road, kicked them out of the car and left.

The women walked nearly four blocks to a church, the only source of light in the area, near the intersection of Rivers and Immokalee roads. They called Rob Gest, another Uber driver, who was happy to rescue them after hearing the panic in their voices.

“I could not see them from the road, it was pitch black,” he said.

Gest took them to the casino, where the women continued the night’s festivities.

The women later reported the incident to Uber. The company is now investigating the case and is issuing them a refund.

Uber couldn’t be reached for comment.

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