Home / Crime and Justice / Uber Driver's Freeway Drop-off Leads to Fatal Tragedy
Uber Driver's Freeway Drop-off Leads to Fatal Tragedy
18 Sep
Summary
- Parents awarded $40 million after daughter's death following Uber ride.
- Driver stopped on freeway, prioritizing a cleaning fee over passenger safety.
- Family established foundation for rideshare safety protections.
The parents of Emily Normandin-Parker, Carol Normandin and Ken Parker, were awarded $40 million after a five-day arbitration concluded in March of this year. Their 23-year-old daughter tragically died on August 12, 2023, after an Uber driver left her on the side of the 73 Freeway. The arbitration found that the driver pulled over at a gore point on State Route 73, engaging in an argument over a cleaning fee with another passenger.
During this dispute, the driver reportedly showed more concern for his vehicle than his passengers. Normandin-Parker, who had exited the vehicle, was struck and killed by traffic on the freeway. GPS data indicated the driver drove near her body before exiting the freeway to contact Uber about the cleaning fee. Uber has stated the driver no longer has access to the platform and maintains that the arbitrator erred in holding the company legally responsible.
The family, who believe Uber prioritized profits over safety, have established The Emily Normandin-Parker Foundation to advocate for stronger rideshare safety protections. They intend to use proceeds from the case to fund this foundation.
