Lyft Driver Charged with Drunk Driving After Killing Passenger in Deadly Crash

(CHICAGO, IL: June 11, 2018) - A Lyft driver, 32-year-old Elizabeth Renter, has been charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence following the death of a 23 year old Lyft passenger early Sunday morning. According to police, the inebriated driver crossed a center line and struck another vehicle head on. The female passenger has been identified as Anudari Bayaraa of Chicago.

Lyft, a company recently valued at $11.5 billion, continues to reap massive profits by cutting corners on background checks and bypassing training of its drivers. Unlike the taxi industry, which requires a commercial driver's license and vets its drivers with fingerprint background checks, Lyft does not take similar steps to protect its passengers. Notably, the databases Lyft uses for background checks contain data that only covers the last seven years, which means that people with a violent criminal history can, and often do, pass the background screening process and injure Lyft passengers.

Keeping in fashion with previous stock press releases following passenger deaths caused by its drivers, Lyft released a statement saying, "We are deeply saddened by this incident. Our sympathies and hearts go out to the loved ones of the driver and passengers during this difficult time. We have reached out to the driver and have been in touch with the passenger's family to offer our full support. We stand ready to assist law enforcement in any investigation."

Understanding the legal issues surrounding assaults, robberies, and accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers can be a complicated matter. The experienced and compassionate professionals at Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC are committed to helping the victims in these cases and to changing public policies and regulations to improve the safety of ride-share services. Recently, TKK filed suit against the company on behalf of a victim sexually assaulted by her Lyft driver. If you or a loved one has been victimized by Lyft’s negligence, please call our office at 312-605-8800 or contact us online.