Uber Ordered To Pay $40M After Driver Abandoned Laguna Beach Woman On Highway

COSTA MESA, CA — Uber will pay $40 million to the parents of a 23-year-old woman who was killed after a ride-share driver abandoned her near traffic on the State route 73 highway, multiple outlets reported.

According to KTLA, Emily Normandin-Parker called an Uber after a night out on Aug. 12, 2023 to take her and her friend home to Laguna Beach.

Her friend became sick during the ride, the report said. The Uber driver, Vu Tran, then pulled over on State route 73 in Costa Mesa at a gore point — which is a triangular area by the off-ramp on the freeway — and asked for a cleaning fee before ousting the young women, KTLA reported.

Normandin-Parker was apparently left stranded alongside freeway lanes, where she was hit by several vehicles and killed, the BBC reported.

The parents of Normandin-Parker, Carol Normandin and Ken Parker, sat down with "Good Morning America" to discuss the events leading up to their daughter's death and the arbitration award.

According to ABC7, when asked if they believe Uber put profits over their daughter's safety, Normandin responded, "Absolutely."

In a statement published by The Orange County Register, Uber officials said they disagreed with the decision.

"No family should have to suffer the loss of a child, and our thoughts continue to be with the Normandin-Parker family," Uber officials wrote. "While we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night."