Tiverton couple takes Uber, minutes later driver gets arrested for DUI

Meghan Cristino and Ryan Mendonca say it was around 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day, when the couple called an Uber to leave their friends house. Minutes later, the driver said he had arrived.

The driver, was 41-year-old Carlos Cordova. The couple says Cordova even joked about being a pizza delivery driver- the first of what the couple said was many ‘bizarre’ experiences.

“We’re driving along you know and he’s like ‘oh do you mind if I drive really slow’ and we’re like you do you man it’s fine…” Meghan recounts.

15 minutes later, flashing blue police lights pop-up behind the Uber while on Fish Road.

“We saw the flashing police lights and were like ‘oh boy here we go,'” the couple says. An officer told the driver he was pulled over for a headlight that was out and what appeared to be swerving.

“The uber driver immediately put his hands on the wheel like hands on the wheel… like as if he was being held at gun point or something was about to happen,” Meghan says.

Cristino and Mendonca say when the officer asked the driver for his license- he said he didn’t have it because he didn’t get it back after visiting a COVID-19 testing site.

Cordova was then asked to do a sobriety field test and perform a breathalyzer test.

Tiverton Police say Cordova’s BAC was .228%- nearly three times the legal limit. Cordova was arrested for suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

The Tiverton couple says they are extremely thankful for police, knowing this could have had a very different, and tragic ending.

“Here’s a message to the Uber driver- we just got engaged and I’m glad we will be able to see our wedding,” Cristino says.

In a statement to ABC6 News, a spokesperson for Uber said the following: