CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said an Uber driver picked up Andrew Sullivan from White Sands Treatment Center Wednesday, then he stole his car.
The sheriff’s office incident report said Sullivan appeared really intoxicated with bloodshot eyes, and slurring his words. So, the driver pulled over on I-75 right before Sullivan started vomiting outside the car. When the driver got out to check on him Sullivan drove off in his car.
Mary Ann Wallace works for Southwest Florida Airport Transportation and said she’s run into intoxicated passengers, too, and would’ve helped Sullivan like the victim did.
“It’s so sad. I would’ve done exactly what he would’ve done. Tried to help the individual,” said Wallace.
She said she would try to stay in the car when passengers have sick spells.
“I turn up the A/C. I try to make them as comfortable as possible,” she said.
Dawn Kuypers has taken Uber but said if she was that driver she would’ve stayed inside too.
“I don’t think I would’ve gotten out of the car. I would’ve stayed at the wheel and asked him myself if he was okay,” she said.
Katie Heck with Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said first call for help.
“When someone’s getting that sick or appears to be in that much need of help in the back of your vehicle, call emergency services and let professionals take over,” she said.
A White Sands representative told Fox 4 Sullivan’s not one of their patients but according to the report the victim who was contracted by White Sands said Sullivan previously worked for the center and recently relapsed. Kuypers said that leads to a lot of questions.
“My concern is how did he get out of the facility. That’s not understandable to me,” she said.
In a statement, Uber said “this type of behavior is not tolerated on the Uber app.” They also told Fox 4 they’ve removed Sullivan’s rider’s access to the app while they investigate.
Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies found the driver’s car on I-75 and State Road 64, arrested Sullivan for grand theft.
He was arrested and charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle.
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