USC students rethink transportation after warning about alleged Lyft rape

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- USC is warning the campus community Wednesday after a student was allegedly raped by a Lyft driver on her way back to her apartment.

The university says the attack took place around 3 a.m. Wednesday in the 3600 block of South Grand Avenue. The female student took a Lyft ride home from a club in West Hollywood to her home near the University Park Campus.

"When they arrived at her apartment, the Lyft driver raped the student in his car," the university reported in a crime alert notice.

LAPD did not immediately have additional details when reached for comment Wednesday night.

"Our thoughts are with the victim and this has no place in society," Lyft said in a statement provided to ABC7. "Based on the information available at this time, we have not identified a report or ride matching the description and can't confirm it involved the Lyft platform. We have reached out to law enforcement and stand ready to assist with their investigation."

The university made sure students are aware of resources that are available to them for counseling, mental health and prevention of sexual violence.

It's unclear if the black sedan the student got into was the correct Lyft vehicle. Regardless, news of the assault has students being extra vigilant.

Students told Eyewitness News that receiving the notice was a shock and made them more wary of using rideshare services - for some an almost-daily aspect of campus life.

"It just caught me by surprise," said USC junior Lisa Eidum. "Typically I'm already scared of Lyfts. I will walk as my first choice. So hearing that made me a little scared, because it (reinforced) my fears of taking Lyft. Definitely induces some anxiety."

"It's just like you don't know who they are," she added. "You don't know the background of the driver, what their intentions are."

Sophomore Katherine Lee said she takes Lyfts on a regular basis. She was planning on using the service Wednesday night but then was rethinking that option after seeing the university alert.

"I think it's very shocking," Lee said. "When we think of Lyft it's a safe app to use, because there are a lot of safety features. I use the safety features all the time."