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Her Kid Disappeared in an Uber — No One Could Find Them

Her Kid Disappeared in an Uber — No One Could Find Them

A terrifying ordeal unfolded recently in Toronto when a mother’s child was driven away by an Uber driver — and neither Uber nor the police could immediately locate the driver or the child.

The Incident

During March Break, Julia, her boyfriend, and their four children took an Uber home from a Toronto Raptors game after their car suffered a flat tire. Julia’s five-year-old daughter fell asleep in the far back seat. Upon arrival, before unloading, Julia and her boyfriend planned how to get everyone inside safely.

Julia was to grab the garage door opener from their car while her boyfriend began unloading the other children and their belongings. Julia intended to carry her sleeping daughter out last — but before she could, the Uber driver suddenly drove away, with the child still inside.

person holding black iphone 5

A Frustrating Search and Lack of Support

The family immediately tried to contact the driver through Uber’s platform — but received no help. Julia called 911, and police arrived quickly. However, when officers reached out to Uber for driver contact information, the company refused to share it directly, citing the need for a formal request via a bureaucratic process.

Julia was stunned. “All we wanted was for them to contact the driver — that’s it — and they refused. This was no time for bureaucratic red tape. This was not a purse or a phone left behind. It was a five-year-old child on a winter night.”

Toronto police confirmed they found the child about an hour and a half later, roughly 20 kilometres away from the boyfriend’s house. The driver reportedly was unaware the child was still in the car. The child was unharmed but hysterical. Paramedics attended as a precaution.

 

Safety Concerns Raised and Uber’s Response

Uber stated that its staff followed standard protocols designed to protect the privacy and safety of riders and drivers. The company said it advised the rider to contact law enforcement and, once police submitted the required emergency disclosure request, Uber cooperated.

“We recognize how distressing this situation was for the family involved and are thankful that the child was safely reunited with their parent,” an Uber spokesperson said. “We immediately began reviewing the details of this incident internally to identify opportunities to improve our processes and support systems.”

However, Julia’s boyfriend was later offered only a $10 credit by Uber — which Julia called “a massive slap in the face.”

Julia’s Demand for Change

Julia has since escalated her concerns with Uber, demanding both fair compensation for the emotional trauma and, more importantly, meaningful changes to emergency response policies — especially to protect minors left in Uber vehicles.

“I made it very clear, you can offer me $1 million. If there are no policy changes, I will not be accepting that. I need to see policy change here,” she said. “No one should have to go through what we went through.”

Why This Matters

This incident is a stark reminder that ride-sharing companies must prioritize passenger safety over bureaucracy. When children are involved, every second counts — and companies like Uber must ensure their emergency procedures enable swift, effective action without unnecessary delays.

Safety Must Be Non-Negotiable

With millions of rides taken daily, the stakes are high. These incidents expose how the absence of adequate safety measures can turn routine trips into traumatic experiences. For the safety of children, families, and drivers—especially women balancing multiple responsibilities—ride-sharing platforms must prioritize transparent, reliable systems that protect everyone on board.

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