LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A California lawsuit claims a 21-year-old athlete was killed when his Uber driver left him on a busy freeway. The man's parents brought the case and charged the ridesharing firm with "carelessness and wrongful death".
Uber did not immediately answer requests for comment in the case. According to the lawsuit, at around 2.30 am on May 21, Cory Hunter was traveling in an Uber with five other passengers on Highway 91 in Corona, which is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
The complaint claims Hunter got out of the car but did not get back in
Uber driver accused of willfully putting Hunter at risk
According to the lawsuit, the car stopped on a shoulder, and Hunter, who had passed out inside, was awakened by other passengers and instructed to get out so he could let someone out to vomit. The complaint claims that Hunter got out of the car but then did not get back in. The complaint claims that by abandoning Hunter on the side of a major highway, "basically leaving a completely disoriented individual," the Uber driver had willfully put Hunter at risk. According to the lawsuit, Hunter was hit by a car just before three in the morning.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Hunter was strolling in the fast lane when a Toyota Corolla hit him. According to the publication, the vehicle had stopped to assist and had not been subject to any criminal investigations. The California Highway Patrol has not yet responded to any requests for information. According to Theida Salazar, the Uber driver's lawyer, his client attempted to locate Hunter by driving back to the spot where he got out of the car but was unable to find him. He said, "It's a tragic incident, it's a loss of life." He added, "My client is a father, he's a brother, he's a son. He's passionate about his community, and he's very compassionate about other people. It is not something he takes lightly."
'He brought immense love and laughter into our home..'
Hunter was a "gifted athlete" and football player who was "loved by everyone," according to a statement on Instagram made by his high school team's head coach following his death. Coach Greg Johnston wrote, "He brought immense love and laughter into our home, and his legacy will never be forgotten." He added, "To live life in a such a positive manner as he did, with love, hard work and the infectious joy he brought everywhere he went, is what everyone that knew Cory should strive for!"
Peter Corrales, the lawyer for Hunter's family, said in a statement provided to McClatchy News that Hunter's cousin described him as a leader who was courteous and motivated others, as reported by Yahoo News. According to the statement, Hunter's sister said he was her "reason for being happy." The statement says, "Every time I would see him, everything felt warm and calm. To know Cory was to love Cory. He was my safe space."
In the statement, one of his pals said that he always had a "positive light" surrounding him. The statement read, "He was also so extremely motivated in life and had the most driven mindset I have ever seen. It made me and many others want to work for greater things in our future." According to the report, his accomplishments were finishing a marathon, bench pressing 225 pounds, earning a football award, and being crowned homecoming king. Over $25,000 in compensatory damages are sought in the complaint.
