Princeton PD Offer Ride Sharing Safety Tips After Student Murder

PRINCETON, NJ — In the wake of the the tragic murder of a University of South Carolina student who mistakenly got into a car she thought was her Uber, but turned out to be driven by her accused murderer, police in Princeton are offering several safety tips to keep in mind when using ride share services.

"The success of the rideshare industry has also proven to be attractive to the criminal element," Princeton Police said. "Rideshare companies, their drivers and their passengers have all been the targets of criminal endeavors ranging from fraud, assault and unfortunately homicide. Recent tragic events have drawn our attention to rideshare safety."

Samantha Josephson, 21, a Robbinsville native, was murdered early Friday, March 29 after leaving a bar in Columbia, SC, police said. Authorities said she called for an Uber, and was last seen entering a Chevrolet Impala. The driver of the car, Nathaniel David Rowland, 25, has since been charged with her murder and kidnapping.

Rowland was not her Uber driver. He locked the doors when she entered the vehicle, before brutally murdering her, police said. A motive has not been revealed by authorities.

Her body was found the next day in a rural area about 60 miles away from where she was last seen.

The coroner on Monday said Josephson died of "multiple sharp force injuries."

• RELATED: The Wrong Car: Shocking Details Of Samantha Josephson's Death

Now, Princeton Police are reminding residents of safety tips to ensure a safe ride:

• Once you have requested your ride, wait for it inside. Allow the app to notify you upon arrival.
• Ask the driver for YOUR name. Verify the driver, license plate, make and model of the car through the app.
• If using Uber, share your ride status with a friend by tapping the "share status" when your ride begins. Your friend will receive your ride info.
• Don't share personal info with your driver, or otherwise overshare. If you're alone, ride in the backseat, not with the driver.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel threatened of unsafe, call 911 for emergency assistance.

"It should be noted that child safety locks on the rear doors will prevent any passenger from opening the rear door from the inside. These locks are not standard in their design, operation, location on the door or in the way they are applied," Princeton Police said. "We encourage ride share users to do their own research to become familiar with the general operation of these locks."

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