SDSU Students Report Sexual Assaults by Fake Rideshare Driver
Reports about the same assailant in the university spark major concerns.
(@sandiegostateuniversity via Instagram)
In a troubling development from FOX 5, a second incident of sexual assault has come to light involving a San Diego State University (SDSU) student in the College Area, with the perpetrator believed to be an impostor posing as a rideshare driver. This disturbing event marks the second such occurrence within a span of just two weeks, raising significant concerns about passenger safety in the area, as reported by local law enforcement authorities on Wednesday.
According to police sources, the victim in this case is a 19-year-old SDSU student who alleges that the assault took place during the early hours of Aug. 19, sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. The victim, accompanied by a friend, had summoned a rideshare vehicle from the 5000 block of Rockford Drive. A vehicle that they believed to be their designated rideshare transport arrived, prompting both individuals to enter the vehicle.
However, the situation quickly took a horrifying turn. The alleged perpetrator, described as a man in his mid-20s initiated a sexual assault against the victim while driving. The traumatic incident unfolded inside the vehicle before the assailant ultimately dropped off the pair several blocks away from their intended destination, as detailed by the police.
Shockingly, the victim’s friend was a firsthand witness to this heinous act, adding a layer of distress to an already distressing incident. The report of this incident was not filed until nine days later, on Aug. 28, with the SDSU Police Department, as the assault had occurred off-campus. Subsequently, the SDSU police promptly alerted the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) to investigate the matter further.
The description of the assailant provided by the victim, though limited, includes details of his clothing – a dark-colored T-shirt and baggy basketball shorts. The vehicle itself was described solely as a dark-colored sedan.
Notably, the SDPD is currently looking into another similar incident that was reported on Aug. 27, just one day prior to this second report. At present, investigators have not definitively linked the two cases, but the circumstances surrounding both incidents bear striking resemblances, casting a grim shadow over the safety of rideshare passengers in the region.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods