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A man in Arizona was arrested Thursday for allegedly slitting
the throat of an Uber driver, less than a week after a pregnant
woman working for ride-share competitor Lyft was stabbed and
killed.

Francisco J. Diaz, 45, has been charged with second-degree
attempted murder, and two counts of aggravated assault in
connection with the incident, according to court documents
obtained by FOX10.

The unidentified Uber driver told police that Diaz was picked up
from a Buffalo Wild Wings in Goodyear, Ariz. Wednesday night.
During the ride, the 45-year-old produced a "large knife" he
later used in an unprovoked attack to slash and stab the driver
before he fled from the vehicle.

The driver drove away and called 911 before being taken to a
trauma center with extensive injuries.

“What the driver experienced is frightening," an Uber
spokesperson told Fox News on Sunday. "There's nothing more
important than the safety of the drivers and riders we serve. We
are relieved he is recovering and stand ready to help police in
their investigation.”

Diaz was arrested Thursday after Tolleson Police, in
coordination with the FBI Violent Crime Task Force, conducted an
investigation and took the 45-year-old into custody at his home
without incident.

The driver, who asked not to be identified out of fears for his
own safety, told 12 News he had to receive more than 20 staples
in his throat from the injury.

"Blood just started gushing out," he told the television
station. "I kept saying, 'I'm not going to die."

A woman told FOX 10 she saw the suspect at the bar before the
attack.

"He kind of went around the bar, and he started showing that
knife and I wasn't comfortable. Neither were my guests or
employees," Liz Glenn said, adding that she was shocked after
seeing Diaz's mugshot on the news.

Glenn told FOX10 he had chilling last words.

"He said, 'you don't know what I'm capable of,'" said Glenn. "He
said that over and over again, to different people who were
trying to get him out of the bar and away from the situation."

In court documents obtained by FOX10, Diaz said he admitted to
pulling out a knife he possessed, swinging the knife at the
driver and cutting his hands, adding that he felt the Uber
driver was going to hurt him.

The 45-year-old is being held on a $500,000 cash only bond and
will be placed under electronic monitoring if he is released. He
is set to appear in court next on Feb. 7.

The attack in the Phoenix suburb came the same week that a Lyft
rider brutally stabbed his pregnant driver multiple times,
killing her and her unborn child before stealing the victim's
vehicle.

Fabian Durazo, 20, drove nearly 150 miles before being arrested
near the California line on Monday, officials said. Tempe Police
said victim Kristina Howato, 39, was in her third trimester of
pregnancy, a report said.

Fox News' Amy Lieu contributed to this report.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/uber-driver-in-arizona-had-throat- slit-by-passenger-man-arrested-police-say
 

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