A Lyft driver was brutally attacked while riding in Texas, saying a passenger cut his throat, tried to choke him, and stole his car.
Delaver Burke, 25, has since been released from the hospital, but remains bedridden and says he is grateful to be alive, Fox 4 reported.
A ride-share driver picked up a man Monday when he was attacked from behind and his car stolen, according to Frisco police.
The suspect, 19-year-old Antoine Williams, was charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and evading arrest.
He also had an outstanding warrant for allegedly encouraging a child to perform a sexual act.
Burke now has stitches on his neck and bandages covering deep cuts on his hands.
Burke told police he picked up Williams while driving for Lyft Monday evening in Frisco, Texas.
When they arrived at Williams' destination at the Legends at Legacy Apartments on 3700 Legacy Drive just before 6 p.m., Burke said the suspect attacked him from behind with a knife and then with a cable or wire in an attempt to strangle him.
“The rider took a knife to Delavere's throat and cut his throat. He did it multiple times,” Burke's friend, Dustin Tovey, told Fox 4.
“Delaver put his hands right in front of the knife and asked the knight: 'Hey, whatever you want. 'Leave me alone.' Then he had a wire to put around his neck and Delaver also reached out and he had a lot of cuts on his fingers and neck because he had been stabbed multiple times.
Frisco police said Williams stole Burke's Toyota Camry and left it in the apartment building's parking lot. A nearby woman helped Burke and called 911 to report the incident.
Hours later, a patrol officer located the vehicle near Highway 423 and Rockhill. The police tried to stop the driver, but he ran away, trying to evade the police.
Police said Williams crashed and tried to flee on foot but was eventually captured.
Burke moved from Türkiye to Texas last year and is sending money to his parents back home.
“He's a hard-working person, and it's really sad to see what happened to him,” Tovey said. “No one deserves this, especially Delafer, because he works so hard.”
Williams remains in custody at the Denton County Jail.
