FORT WORTH, Texas — Recently released dashcam video shows a Fort Worth rideshare passenger threatening to hit the driver and take her car after an argument about how many people could fit in the back of the car.
Michelle has taken on a second job as a rideshare driver for Lyft in the North Texas area. She said for her own safety, she asked WFAA not to identify her while talking to us about an incident from Sunday, Nov. 19.
On Nov. 19 a little before 1 a.m., Michelle said she pulled into a Fort Worth neighborhood to pick up a customer. She said initially three people got in the very back seat.
"One opens the passenger side seat, and then more start coming," Michelle said. "And I'm like, 'There's only six seats available.'"
Michelle shared some dashcam video of the incident, showing the passengers getting in the car and interacting with the driver. WFAA blurred the faces of her passengers in the dashcam video because they have not yet been identified.
Michelle can be seen saying, "I could lose my license. Seriously no."
"Why are you doing this?" asked one of the passengers.
"Because it's the law," Michelle then said.
The dashcam video eventually shows one of the passengers using profanity while threatening Michelle.
"I am getting ready to hit you in your face and take your car. How about I hit you in your face you (explicative)," the passenger said.
WFAA reached out to Lyft for comment but didn't get a response.
Michelle said she has had to de-escalate passenger behavior more than once since she became a rideshare driver. That includes asking passengers to exit her SUV.
"I've kicked a couple of people out of my car before," Michelle said, "Like the one that reached for my phone. I ended the ride."