An Uber driver was arrested Thursday on suspicion of driving under the influence after colliding with a party bus in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego Police said.
The crash occurred just before midnight on F Street between 6th and 7th avenues amongst restaurants and nightclubs.
The Uber driver ran a red light and crashed into the back of the charter bus, police said. Only the driver was on board the bus at the time of the crash.
The Uber driver’s vehicle burst into flames, SDPD Lt. Dan Smith said.
“He was on his Uber shift. We don’t know if he had driven anybody yet but he said he had driven downtown to pick up a fare,” Smith said.
However, a spokesperson for Uber denies that the unidentified driver was on his way to pick up a fare.
"This individual was not logged in to the Uber app at the time this incident occurred or on his way to pick up a rider," the spokesperson said in a statement to NBC 7.
Video captured the driver fall the ground as officers and firefighters attempted to restrain him.
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He was eventually cuffed and masked before being transported to a nearby hospital for injuries he suffered in the crash.
The party bus driver was also injured and taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
Smith said the Uber driver failed a field sobriety test.
It’s likely the driver will face charges of misdemeanor driving under the influence and resisting arrest, Smith said.
He's also no longer an Uber driver according to the company.
"We are clearly disappointed that this occurred and have permanently removed this driver-partner's access to the Uber platform," an Uber company spokesperson said.
