Near Miss on the Way to JFK

Erin Sloan, a resident of Lake Arrowhead, Southern California, experienced a harrowing ordeal last week when the Uber she was traveling in caught fire while en route to JFK Airport in New York. Sloan was with seven other passengers when the incident occurred.

What Happened During the Ride?

Initial Signs of Trouble

Sloan first noticed something was amiss when she heard objects falling from underneath the vehicle. “Halfway through the trip, I felt something underneath me fall, then further down something else fell off and then something huge fell off,” Sloan stated. Shortly after, she began to feel heat emanating from under her seat.

Escaping the Flames

As the cabin filled with smoke, the Uber driver pulled over to the side of the road. An off-duty officer who witnessed the unfolding situation assisted with the evacuation. Sloan described the scene as glass began to explode and thick black smoke engulfed the area. “They would get it extinguished, and it would blow back up again,” she said.

Aftermath and Response

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, though passengers were forced to find alternative transportation to reach their destination. Video footage following the fire shows the van completely charred, reduced to its metal frame.

Frustration with Uber’s Initial Reaction

Sloan expressed her dissatisfaction with Uber’s initial response to the incident. She stated the company only contacted her after she posted a video of the aftermath on social media. “Their initial response was, ‘Thank you so much for letting us know. We’re going to look into this and we hope you have safer rides,’ like no guys, I fled a flaming car and ran across the freeway,” Sloan recounted.

Uber offered Sloan a refund of her $19 fare and a $50 credit to her account. CBS LA has contacted Uber for a statement but has not yet received a response.