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By Phil Helsel
In mourning at a burial Wednesday in New Jersey, paid tribute to the student who died after taking a car for his ride with Uber. Legislators in South Carolina, where she died, insist that carpool vehicles be clearly marked. with bright signs.
Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old New Jersey student from the University of South Carolina, was murdered last week. Investigators believe that she got into the wrong car early Friday while she was waiting for an Uber in front of a bar in Colombia. A suspect was arrested and the police said that she had apparently taken her car to the Uber that she had ordered.
Nathaniel D. Rowland, 24, has been charged with murder and kidnapping. The body of the student was found Friday afternoon in a wooded area of Clarendon County. Rowland was arrested after his arrest at Columbia early Saturday, police said.
Seth Josephson told the bereaved on Wednesday that the family's sadness "will never end," reported NBC New York.
"It may diminish in the future, but it will always leave a hole in the heart," he said as he read a statement on behalf of Josephson's family. Seth Josephson is a cousin of Samantha Josephson's father.
Josephson's father, Seymour Josephson, said he would devote his life to improving the safety of ridesharing services.
"Samantha was alone, she had no chance, no, the door was locked, the child safety locks were on, she had absolutely no chance," he said at the time. 39, a vigil at Columbia.
In response to Josephson's death, lawmakers in South Carolina introduced a bill that would require all carpool drivers to display a bright sign clearly stating their vehicles.
"We can not stop a psychopath from doing something hideous, but as lawmakers and policymakers, we must take precautions to avoid the possibility of this happening," said the spokesman. State, Seth Rose, Democrat, according to the affiliate of NBC WIS of Columbia.
The bill, the "Carpool Safety Act by Samantha L. Josephson," was introduced on Tuesday.
This would require the vehicles of the "transmission system company" to display a visible light panel in the dark. The current law requires a reflective sign or emblem.
Uber and Lyft did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday regarding proposed changes to the law or regulation in force regarding illuminated signs.
Lyft's website seems to indicate that its light panel, called "amp", is available in some areas for senior drivers. Uber also has a bright sign called "tag" described as an option, according to the website of this company.
The University of South Carolina announced Monday a "What's My Name" campaign to help students stay safe when they ask for a carpool vehicle?
Uber announced that he would be joining the university to raise awareness about safety.
"Since 2017, we are working with local law enforcement to educate the public on how to avoid fake carpool drivers," Uber said in a statement. "Everyone in Uber is devastated to hear about this unspeakable crime, and our heart is with Samantha Josephson's family and loved ones."
Uber encourages users to check the car, license plate and driver against the information provided via the app before entering. If the information does not match, do not ride in the vehicle, says the company.
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