Man hid before attacking woman, Uber driver with knife, Lincoln Police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man hid behind a tree late Wednesday night before attacking a woman and an Uber driver with a knife, Lincoln Police say.

Before 10 p.m., a 19-year-old woman was waiting for an Uber after getting off work near 48th and Van Dorn Streets.

Manuel Mendez, 39, emerged from behind a tree armed with a knife and ran after the woman.

The woman, who knew Mendez, quickly got into the Uber, locked the doors and told the driver to leave, according to police.

Mendez was able to catch up to the car and stabbed the driver in the face and stomach through an open window, police say.

He then tried to reach into the back of the car to stab the woman, who was able to deflect the knife.

While Mendez was hanging onto the car, the driver hit the gas and crashed into a dumpster, which set off the vehicle’s airbags.

Mendez was disarmed by the impact and ran away, according to police.

The woman was able to flag down a witness, who called the police.

About an hour later, officers found Mendez after he called for help due to the injuries he suffered in the crash, police say.

All three were taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Once medically cleared, Mendez was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, second-degree domestic assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony.