USC student's death leads to bill requiring Uber, Lyft signs
COLUMBIA (AP) - A bill has been introduced in the South Carolina Legislature to require Uber and Lyft drivers to have illuminated signs days after police say a college student mistakenly got into the wrong car and was kidnapped and killed.
House Speaker Jay Lucas immediately put the bill on the calendar for today to be debated.
Rep. Seth Rose said the bill was in response to the Friday killing of 21-year-old University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson.
Police said Josephson had ordered an Uber ride early Friday after being separated from her group of friends but mistakenly got into a similar car driven by 24-year-old Nathaniel David Rowland.
Police said he killed Josephson with a sharp object and dumped her body, which was found Friday afternoon by a pair of turkey hunters on Black Bottom Road in New Zion in Clarendon County, 65 miles from where she was abducted early Friday in front of The Bird Dog bar on Harden Street in Columbia. Rowland skipped a first court appearance, and records do not show if he has a lawyer.
Josephson's blood and cellphone, along with bleach and cleaners, were found in his car the next night when he was arrested two blocks from Five Points, authorities said.
Rowland graduated from East Clarendon High School.
Josephson's father, Seymour Josephson, promised to dedicate his life to improving the safety of ride-sharing services, and he told her friends to travel in groups for safety.