Rideshare driver escapes attempted carjacking in Palo Alto
(KRON) — A rideshare driver narrowly escaped a carjacking Monday night following a dramatic chase, according to the Palo Alto Police Department. Palo Alto PD dispatch got a call at 12:47 a.m. from a man in his twenties reporting suspicious circumstances.
Officers arrived on scene in the 100 block of University Avenue and met the victim, a rideshare driver. The driver told police that he’d been driving his black 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander to pick up a fare in the 800 block of Forest Avenue.
He told officers a suspect vehicle drove up next to him, suddenly pulled ahead of him and stopped. Three men got out of the vehicle and approached the victim’s Highlander.
The victim told police he locked himself inside as one man yelled at him to get out of the car. Another suspect, police said, produced a long metal rod and began striking the victim’s vehicle. A third suspect repeatedly struck the driver’s side window with his hand and tried to pull the door open.
The victim took off, was able to drive around the suspect vehicle, and accelerated away. The suspects gave chase until eventually turning off. The victim stopped on the 100 block of University to call the police. As he was unfamiliar with the area, the victim was unable to tell police where the incident took place or which streets he took during the chase.
Police believe it began in the Crescent Park neighborhood and may have wound its way into downtown Palo Alto. Police believe the victim was targeted for robbery or carjacking.
His vehicle sustained moderate damage, police said, from being struck multiple times with a metal rod.
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