A terrified teen girl jumped from a moving Lyft vehicle in Tenafly on Tuesday, April 22, after the driver missed a turn, sparking concern and fueling rumors of an attempted abduction.
Around 3:32 p.m., the teen, returning home from school, became alarmed when the driver, a 70-year-old Hackensack man, missed a turn onto their street. The teen tried to alert the driver but received no response, prompting them to exit the moving vehicle in fear. The teen fell to the ground and suffered minor injuries.
After running home, the teen called 911 and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Police confirmed the teen was released later that afternoon.
The driver, who is hearing-impaired, immediately stopped when he saw the teen exit the car. He told police that he believed the teen was unharmed after watching them run away. Following the incident, the driver reported the situation to Lyft.
In the hours following the event, rumors spread on social media, suggesting the situation may have been an attempted abduction. Police addressed these speculations, emphasizing that the incident was not criminal.
Authorities urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions based on online posts. They also recommended that families use the incident as an opportunity to discuss ride-share safety and create personal safety plans for their children.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.