Former Tulsa Uber Driver Arrested, Charged With Rape Of Customer

Police arrested a former Tulsa Uber driver Tuesday evening after he was charged with first-degree rape.  

Prosecutors allege David Knight, 63, raped a customer while driving for Uber back in May.

The victim called for the car service after leaving a bar on Cherry Street, police said. She knew she shouldn't drive, so she requested to be picked up and taken to her home less than a mile away.

The woman passed out in Knight's car, however, and woke up the next morning in his home, police said.

She checked her Uber mobile application and discovered the route was longer than it should've been, and it didn't involve her address, police said.

They say Knight took her back to her car and she contacted a friend and police, and had a SANE exam.

Police said she remembers flashes of him sexually assaulting her.

When she contacted Uber, they banned him from the service.

Uber released a statement saying, "What's been described and reported to police is a violent act no person should ever have to go through. As soon as we became aware of this report, we immediately removed this former driver's access. We are fully cooperating with the Tulsa Police Department and will continue to provide any information to them useful in their case."

Uber also provided the following:

BACKGROUND FACTS ON SAFETY:

Drivers: All drivers undergo a thorough screening process (completed by CheckR which is accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners) before they gain access to Uber. This includes a Motor Vehicle Records check and criminal records check that scours local, state and national databases.

Technology: We leverage technology to increase accountability and transparency in transportation, including logging the driver's information and making it available to the rider to verify the right car, tracking every trip with GPS technology so riders and drivers are always on the map; providing 24/7 support and investigating any issues. We also have features in place like Real-Time ID Check which can help verify the right driver is behind the wheel on an ongoing basis.

Consumer features and tips to improve safety: Uber has built consumer-friendly features into the app. For example, our Share Status feature allows riders to send trip details to a loved one who can monitor their trip live and know their whereabouts. We recently launched “Cross Streets” in the US, an option so that riders can avoid sharing their exact address to help protect their privacy. We also worked with law enforcement to develop safety tips for both riders and drivers.

Community Guidelines: Uber has clear Community Guidelines in place that explain in plain English what behavior is- and isn't appropriate- and what can get you banned from Uber, which includes any sexual contact whatsoever. We work to educate drivers and riders about those standards regularly and take action to hold them accountable. Drivers agree to these Guidelines and if they are found to break them, they are held accountable.

Safety Advisory Board: We also have a Safety Advisory Board-which includes sexual assault, road safety, and law enforcement experts- here to advise us so we can continue innovating to raise the bar. We want to do our part to tackle tough safety issues that impact the transportation community and all cities.