Uber driver stranded on I-95 goes above and beyond to keep teen passenger safe, offered new job

When hundreds of people were stranded for hours recently on Interstate 95 in Virginia, an Uber driver went above and beyond to keep his teenage passenger safe, and ended up being offered a new job for his heroic efforts.

Virginia's FOX5 reported, "DaVante Williams sat for 5.5 hours in his vehicle overnight with a teenage passenger, who he described as 'emotional' and 'overwhelmed' as they faced the gridlock traffic. Unusually heavy snowfall and plunging temperatures had hit the area between Richmond and Washington, D.C., leading to a calamity on the interstate."

Last week, hundreds of people were stuck on I-95 between Richmond and Washington, D.C. in standstill traffic.

"Around midnight on Tuesday morning, Williams set out and picked up three different riders before picking up a teenager trying to head home to Williamsburg, Virginia — some 150 miles away," FOX5 reported. "The girl was originally going to take a train, but it was canceled due to a derailment, so she turned to Uber."

"Williams said he picked her up at Union Station, they got onto I-95 and about 20 miles into their journey, near Lorton, everything came to a stop," the report noted. "He made some attempts to get off the highway but was ultimately directed back to the standstill traffic on the interstate." Williams still had no idea how bad this was going to be.

"So, I get back on 95, and in my mind, I’m just saying, ‘Maybe this is a little fender bender. It will be all over shortly,’" Williams said. "One hour went by, two hours went by..."

FOX5 noted, "Sitting there with nowhere to go, both called loved ones and friends. Williams said he had drinks and some snacks in his truck and that his vehicle is good on gas — but he did start to get concerned about fuel as the clock ticked."

"Williams said his young rider was 'very, very emotional' after first having attempted to get home on a canceled train ride, only to become stranded on the highway," the report continued. "He said he spoke to her parents to let them know he would take care of their daughter."

"She would call her mother or call her father here and there to communicate what was going on," Williams told FOX5. "She was overwhelmed, and I totally understood because all she wanted to do was get home."

Williams ended up getting a hotel room for his young passenger and offered to drive her home later once the traffic had died down - at no charge.

A family friend eventually picked up the teenager to take her home.

"I’m happy it was me that was her driver," Williams said. "Any other driver, I’m not sure what would have happened."

"And based on her energy and her presence, I felt I was put there for a reason... to do what I did," he said.

Uber shared Williams' story later that day in a tweet, adding: "Not all heroes wear capes."

After this story circulated, Williams was praised by Uber officials and offered a part-time job as a "lead driver" for "upscale ride-sourcing service" Ride Alto, which he accepted, to serve in a "supervising, managing role."

This young lady was lucky to run into a good soul like DaVante Williams on that treacherous day.

We could use more like him.