Lyft Driver Allegedly Knocked Passenger Down Following Verbal Dispute, Leaving Rider With Facial Fractures

A search is underway for a Lyft driver who allegedly knocked a passenger down following a "verbal dispute."

The passenger was on his way to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Georgia on Sunday afternoon when he felt the driver was "acting unusual." The driver lost the way several times during the trip, following which the passenger got down from the vehicle and informed the driver that he will walk the rest of the way. But the driver tried to leave even before the passenger could get his belongings.

"So, he reached to get his bag and when he turned around, the Lyft driver just cold-cocked him in the face and this came out the blue. So, it knocked my husband to the ground and he just started beating him up, in the face," the victim’s wife told NBC-affiliated television station 11 Alive.

The unidentified passenger managed to call 911 and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The man suffered facial fractures in the violent attack.

Speaking about her husband's condition, the wife said, "He's in a daze, you know, but he was in a lot of pain when he came in. They've put ice packs on his face and they've given him a shot of pain medication, but he still sounds terrible."

A police case was filed and a search was on for the driver, who they believe was named Roy. Atlanta Police told 11 Alive that the driver assaulted the passenger following some sort of "verbal dispute" between them.

Lyft has been informed about the incident, but the company is yet to comment on it.

The incident comes a month after a Lyft passenger attacked the driver in Florida over a plastic partition for coronavirus protection. Travis Smith was traveling home when he got angry over a plastic partition set up between him and the driver. Following an argument with the driver, Smith tore off the partition and grabbed the driver by his neck. A police case was filed and the passenger was taken into custody. Authorities said the passenger was drunk at the time of the incident.