Superhero Uber Driver Pulls Over To Save Lives
For today’s superhero Uber driver stories, a driver midway to an airport stopped the car to rescue people from a burning building. On the early morning of August 17, Fritz Sam was headed to Queens, New York City.
Author:Rhyley CarneyReviewer:Paula M. GrahamAug 23, 20225.7K Shares82.6K Views
For today’s superhero Uber driverstories, a driver midway to an airport stopped the car to rescue people from a burning building.
On the early morning of August 17, Fritz Sam was headed to Queens, New York City.
That day’s second rider asked him to drop her off at LaGuardia Airport.
When they reached the Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) neighborhood in Brooklyn, he spotted a fire coming out from a brownstone.
Sam told CBS New York that the moment the thought that a person could be inside that burning place popped into his head:
“„“There was something in me that couldn’t hold back.”
So, the 54-year-old father-of-two stepped on the brakes and decided to do something about the situation.
Still, the African-American superhero Uber driver asked permission first from his passenger before proceeding with his heroic act.
According to one firefighter, the fire broke out before 8 a.m., CBS reported.
It took the firefighters approximately 30 minutes to make the situation “under control.”
No one perished or got hurt from the fire incident.
“„We’re incredibly grateful to have such a heroic and thoughtful member of our community in Fritz.
Sam assisted two residents to get out of the burning premises.
Not only that, this superhero Uber driver and his passenger arrived at the airport without the latter missing her flight.
Uber driver hailed a hero after rescuing people from burning building
From The Car And Into The Fire
In his interview with CNN’s Alisyn Camerota, the host asked Sam why he pulled over.
The superhero Uber driver told her he had that “habit.”
He said he wasn’t sure how to put it into words but explained that it could be a kind of “feeling” that prompts one to “do something.”
Sam helped a man and a woman leave the building before it was too late.
It took a lot of convincing before they agreed to evacuate with him.
In the later part of the interview, his passenger, Jemimah “Jemma” Wei, joined through video conferencing.
When Sam got out of the car to see how he could help, Wei followed behind.
She joined other people in yelling “fire” just in case to rouse any sleeping resident, according to CNN.
She also took a picture of the burning brownstone and uploaded it on Twitter.
Some media outlets used it for their reports.
Wei, an award-winning writer and a former host of NBC’s E! Travel Diaries, called Sam a “hero.”
She said that she was “impressed” that he “didn’t even hesitate” to do what he did.
Sam previously described her as “awesome” for being an understanding passenger.
Wei told him that people would message her about him and how he had given them “hope.”
She added:
“„These are really difficult times . . . you just peeled through all of that noise and reminded everyone that there are good people out there.
Sam also left a message to all those who temporarily got relocated because of the fire.
He told them to “hang in there” despite their “tough” situation.
This superhero Uber driver assured them that “everything’s gonna be OK” and that they would “be back home soon.”
Camerota concluded the interview by telling him:
“„Fritz Sam, you do restore everyone’s faith in humanity.
Uber and Uber Drivers
On August 19, Uber tweeted about its “first-ever Uber Yearbook” that will feature “some of the most inspiring people” in its company.
For his heroic deed, Fritz Sam will be included in its first edition.
He has been an Uber driver since 2015.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi eventually learned about what the said superhero Uber driver did.
He retweeted Wei’s post about the incident and remarked about the goodness of people.
Khosrowshahi’s tweet didn’t escape the attention of one writer.
Sports reporter and SBLive Sports regional editor Ryan Isley criticized the Iranian-American Uber big boss.
Isley’s reply to his tweet:
“„And you paid him 10 cents a minute while he was being a hero. But hey, he got a call and a Twitter post.
Uber gets criticized regarding its treatment of drivers, according to a BBC reportpublished this August.
In the U.S., Uber drivers don’t receive certain benefits.
They are not entitled, for example, to a minimum wage.
Uber drivers also don’t get paid extra on holidays.
Based on its financial report for the second quarter of 2022, as published on its website, Uber’s revenue “grew 105 percent YoY [year-over-year].”
That translates to $8.1 billion in revenue.
An Uber driver, of course, need not be a superhero Uber driver doing heroic acts to justify a plea for better benefits.
According to Khosrowshahi, the number of Uber driver applicants increased in 2022 by 31 percent.
That’s nearly 5 million Uber drivers right now.
And Wei was one lucky Uber rider.
As what she told CBS New York:
“„You . . . don’t expect to be driven around by a hero.
Khosrowshahi should perhaps work on creating a wonderful employee benefits package for its drivers.
Lack of benefits may drive away other unheard of superhero Uber drivers.
Rhyley Carney
Author
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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