US: Indian Student Stranded as Lyft Driver Flees with $30K Worth Luggage; Company's CEO Reacts

An Indian student studying at Harvard University found herself stranded in Boston after a Lyft driver abruptly canceled her ride to Logan International Airport in Massachusetts. In a long LinkedIn post, Shreya Verma shared her experience, along with screenshots of her chat with Lyft customer service.

Verma requested the company to promptly contact the driver, urging the immediate return of her belongings. Shreya, a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was en route to India to reunite with her family, when the incident happened. The ordeal began when she realised she left her headphones behind, prompting her to ask the driver to return to her home. After she returned, she found that her ride was canceled and her luggage was missing.

“Yesterday, at 6 PM, I booked a ride to Boston airport. Shockingly, after loading my luggage, the driver abruptly canceled, leaving with all my belongings, including my passport, VISA, OPT/EAD Card, and vital document, electronics, resulting in a devastating loss of $30,000. I have been actively seeking assistance from Lyft customer service, but unfortunately, crucial driver details remain elusive, compounding the challenges I am already facing,” she said.  “Equally important is providing the necessary ride details to the Cambridge Police Department, as it is critical for the ongoing legal proceedings,” she added.

Despite active engagement with the local authorities, Shreya faced hurdles due to the lack of information. “Regrettably, despite active engagement with Cambridge Police Department and The Corporation of the City of Cambridge lack of pertinent information is hindering progress. The mandated legal procedures, involving subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants, are proving to be time-consuming and emotionally taxing,” she wrote on her social media.

The incident, shared nearly a week ago, gained traction online, prompting responses from Lyft’s official LinkedIn profile and CEO David Risher. The company assured ongoing support and swift resolution, stating they were in contact with the driver. Risher expressed deep regret and stressed the company’s commitment to addressing the issue promptly. “Very sorry you’re going through this, Shreya. That’s absolutely awful. Our team is on it,” he said.