Boston Uber Driver Assaulted, Carjacked in Broad Daylight
Published: November 2, 2023
BOSTON, MA – A 24-year-old Dorchester man is facing multiple charges, including carjacking and assault, after allegedly attacking an Uber driver and stealing her vehicle Thursday evening. The incident occurred at the busy intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Columbus Avenue in Boston.
Boston Police responded to a carjacking report at approximately 6:30 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found the Uber driver in a state of important distress. Emergency medical Services (EMS) where immediately dispatched to the scene to evaluate her condition.
According to police reports, a witness observed a struggle between the driver and a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle. The witness stated they saw the driver manage to escape the car and call for help as the suspect moved to the driver’s seat and sped away with the vehicle.
The victim told investigators she picked up the suspect in Cambridge earlier in the evening.She reported that the assault began when she stopped at the Massachusetts and Columbus Avenue intersection. She described feeling a cord or wire being tightened around her neck, severely restricting her breathing.
Law enforcement officials were able to locate the stolen vehicle using the Uber driver’s phone,which had been left inside. Tracking the phone’s signal led officers to the area of Stanwood Street and Blue Hill avenue, where they successfully apprehended the suspect, identified as Christopher Dawkins, without further incident.
dawkins is currently in custody and will be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court. He is charged with carjacking, strangulation/suffocation, assault and battery by means of a risky weapon, and receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have stated that no further details are currently available. This incident underscores the risks faced by rideshare drivers and has prompted renewed calls for increased safety measures.
