Uber driver brutally attacked in St. Petersburg, police say

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A nightmare confrontation sent a Pinellas County father and Uber driver to the hospital.

Now he's struggling to survive and his two alleged attackers face felony charges.

The assault played out Tuesday night as the victim picked the suspects up for an Uber ride.

St. Petersburg police explain the Uber driver, Marvin Carroll was picking up a group of young men at the McDonald's parking lot located at 1020 34th Street North.

Officials say in that group were two brothers David Moorer and Salvatore Henderson. Police say the 17-year-old Moorer was a runaway and a nearby relative asked Carroll not to take them anywhere.

“He immediately said okay no I’m out I don't want to do this and unfortunately he ended up getting assaulted because of that,” said SPPD spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez.

Police say both brothers punched Carroll, causing him to fall and hit his head on the concrete pavement.

“My son called and said the cops were at the house and I knew something was really bad,” said Carroll’s girlfriend, Amy Loughlin.

Loughlin says he's been working Uber as a way to take care of his family which includes his young daughter.

“He hasn't been able to work so he was trying to do Uber and he was doing it like 7 days a week,” she said.

Some Uber drivers now question what, if anything, can be done to improve overall driver safety.

“They really should have better security like if something were to happen we could press a button or call for help,” said Uber driver Debbie Murray.

Henderson and Moorer now face aggravated battery charges.