By Newspot Nigeria Global Desk
San Francisco, CA — A Bay Area jury has convicted 44-year-old Yucel Eryilmaz of raping a woman after she mistakenly entered his car, believing it was her Uber, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. He was found guilty of rape of an unconscious person and assault with intent to commit rape.
Prosecutors said the incident occurred on October 18, 2025, when the victim and her sister were leaving a club in San Francisco’s Mission District. The two women mistakenly entered Eryilmaz’s car, believing it was their Uber. The victim sat in the front seat while her sister fell asleep in the back.
According to prosecutors, Eryilmaz began driving the women to their destination before attempting to kiss the woman in the front seat. She refused, and when they arrived, she got out of the vehicle. Before she could wake her sleeping sister, Eryilmaz allegedly drove away with the sister still in the back seat.
Prosecutors said Eryilmaz then drove to a parking lot near his apartment complex, where he raped the sleeping woman. Video footage reportedly showed him pulling into the parking lot, leaving the driver’s side, going to the back of the car, sitting down and locking the door.
The victim later woke up scared and confused in the back seat, with Eryilmaz on top of her, prosecutors said. She was eventually able to free herself and later used his phone to call her sister. After learning that police were already searching for her, she ran away and called for help.
Assistant District Attorney Abigail Adams praised the victim’s courage during the trial, saying her testimony showed that there is no single way survivors respond to trauma.
“I commend the victim for her bravery, authenticity and vulnerability while she relived these terrifying events during her testimony,” Adams said. “I hope the victim finds the closure and healing she needs as she attempts to put this horrific incident behind her.”
The case has again drawn attention to the risks passengers face when entering vehicles they believe to be rideshare cars, especially late at night. Authorities have repeatedly advised riders to confirm the vehicle, driver, licence plate and app details before entering any car.
— Newspot Nigeria
