Both women at the center of an Uber attack were in tears on Wednesday.
Video of the incident posted to social media has gone viral.
According to the passenger, popular sports reporter Tabitha Turner, the drama started when she ordered a comfort Uber from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport to her home on Saturday.
“This is so hurtful that this is happening,” Tabitha Turner said with her attorney at a press briefing on Wednesday.
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Turner said because it was 90 degrees on Saturday, she asked the Uber driver to roll up the windows.
But Turner said the driver refused.
“She said she likes to leave the windows down in case customers [car] get sick,” Turner told Channel 2’s Audrey Washington on Wednesday.
Turner said the driver, Mericole Smith, grew angry and demanded she get out of the car along I-85 North in Hapeville.
Turner said she did not feel comfortable getting out in traffic.
Turner’s attorney said that’s when things got physical.
“The Uber driver turns into the back seat and maces my client in the face,” said attorney Miguel A. Dominguez.
Dominguez said his client tried to deploy her own pepper spray in defense, but he said Smith then tried to physically pull Turner out of the car.
The two women struggled on the side of the road.
“I was, like, covered in blood,” Mericole Smith told Washington.
Though Smith is now facing battery charges, Smith said Turner was the aggressor.
“I am essentially fighting for my life. I would never do this. I have so much to lose,” Smith said through tears.
During the interview, Smith became overwhelmed and broke down.
“I’m being punished, and I’m the one that has to go to the hospital. And, see the bruises on my body. And I have to relive this over and over and over again,” Smith said.
Still, Turner said Smith is not telling the truth about what happened.
Turner said she is now dealing with the backlash on social media.
“People questioning my character because of what she’s saying. ... I just wanted to go home after work and see my daughter,” Turner said tearfully.
Hapeville police told Washington the warrant is now signed.
Smith said she will turn herself in on battery charges.
In an email, Uber wrote in part: “Safety is fundamental to the Uber experience, and conduct like this is not tolerated. We’ve taken action in response to this disturbing incident, including removing the driver from the Uber platform, and will support law enforcement however we can.”
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