Officials: Kidnapped Texas Lyft driver forced on 1,300-mile trip to Miami
MIAMI - A man is facing serious charges after being accused of kidnapping a North Texas Lyft driver at gunpoint and forcing the person to drive more than 1,300 miles to South Florida.
Authorities said Miguel Pastran Hernandez, 23, from Venezuela, is facing several charges including kidnapping, carjacking and possession of a firearm.
The probable cause affidavit said Pastran was picked up in Arlington by a Lyft driver on Friday, Aug. 16, at around 10:30 p.m. and driven to a gas station that appeared not to be in service. That is when Pastran took out a gun, according to the affidavit.
Officials said the victim offered Pastran any possession, but Pastran threatened to tie the driver up. The victim then begged to drive and Pastran ordered the driver to head for Florida.
Following Pastran's instructions, the driver drove until 11 a.m. the following day, when Pastran directed the victim to tell the victim's children about a work trip while passing through Louisiana.
During the trip, Pastran discovered an unloaded 9mm handgun and its ammunition that the driver had kept in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Later on Saturday, Aug. 17, they arrived in the Miami Beach area. That is when Pastran told the driver that he intended to kidnap a second person and hold that person for a $3 million ransom.
Two days later, Pastran directed the driver to go to a Dollar General in Hialeah for supplies. The driver hid in the bathroom, so Pastran grabbed the car keys and took off on foot when law enforcement arrived.
Police located Pastran in Hollywood three hours later with a loaded 9mm handgun belonging to the rideshare driver found in a bag he tried to discard while fleeing.
During an interview with police, Pastran admitted to kidnapping the rideshare driver at gunpoint.
Lyft confirmed to CBS News Texas that the driver involved was one of their employees, saying in part:
"Safety is fundamental to Lyft, and the incident described is deeply troubling. We have reached out to the driver to offer our support, permanently banned the rider's account from the Lyft platform, and are assisting law enforcement with their investigation."