Widow of Uber driver killed on the job calls for change in rideshare companies

The widow of a local Uber driver, who was killed on the job, is calling for changes in rideshare companies.

Joshua Kelvin was 42 years old when he was shot and killed while driving for Uber in Southeast Portland.

“He was just doing a job to support myself and our three kids when he was tragically taken,” said his wife, Kelly Kelvin.

Kelvin was married to Joshua for eighteen years. Now she’s pushing rideshare companies to take action so that this doesn’t happen to another family.

“Rideshare companies need to have cameras in the vehicle. Just so that there is another set of eyes for these drivers,” said Kelvin.

Noah Ernst, who is a manager at Radio Cab and also a candidate for Portland City Council District One says Kelvin’s idea works.

“We’ve lost one of our drivers a year ago, and the reality is that camera in the cab was key in getting the result that we got and putting that perpetrator in jail,” said Ernst.

Kelvin also wants companies to crack down on third-party passengers, that is, people who are ordering rides for other people. She believes her husband’s passenger at the time, a teenager, was the intended target. That teen was badly hurt in the shooting.

“You just don’t know who’s getting in your car when another drive another ride is made and it’s a different person getting in.,” said Kelvin.

We reached out to Uber to hear what they had to say, and they sent us a statement reading in part: “… Over the years we have taken serious steps to improve safety on the platform including building features like GPS tracking, the ability to chat with a live safety agent, and an in-app emergency button. Our efforts will never stop.”

Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward information that helps investigators find the shooter.

https://katu.com/news/local/widow-of-uber-driver-killed-on-the-job-calls-for-change-with-rideshare-companies

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Author: KATU News
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News post in at: August 2, 2024, 3:04 am.

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