A federal lawsuit has been filed by the family of a 38-year-old mother of four and Uber driver in Pennsylvania, who was fatally shot in the head on February 10, 2022.
The suit alleges negligence on the part of Uber, claiming that Christina Spicuzza’s death could have been prevented with basic safety measures.
The lawsuit points out that simple and affordable safety measures, such as installing barriers between the front and back seats, have been used for years to protect for-hire drivers from assaults. However, Uber is accused of failing to provide such protection or even warning Spicuzza of its importance.
The incident occurred when Calvin Crew, 24, a wanted felon, arranged an Uber ride with his girlfriend on February 10, 2022.
Dashcam footage recovered by police revealed that Crew did not exit the vehicle at the intended drop-off point. Instead, he allegedly brandished a gun, seized Spicuzza’s shoulder, and threatened her, demanding she continue driving.
The driver, fearing for her life, pleaded with Crew, mentioning her four children. Crew took her phone and instructed her to obey his commands. He also removed the dashboard camera. Tragically, Spicuzza’s remains were found two days later in a wooded area.
Calvin Crew is facing charges including criminal homicide, robbery, and evidence tampering and is awaiting trial. The lawsuit asserts that Uber could have taken preventive actions, including implementing background checks for passengers and allowing drivers to cancel suspicious fares without penalty, which might have saved Spicuzza’s life.
Uber, while not commenting on the pending litigation, emphasized its commitment to driver safety, mentioning safety features and policies introduced over the years.
The case continues, with Crew scheduled for a pretrial motion hearing on September 18.
