A Florida Uber driver called police after a mother allegedly left her two young children inside his vehicle for more than two hours and failed to return.
The incident happened in Sunrise, Florida, on February 13, 2026, and was later captured in released police body-camera footage.
The children were 3 and 4 years old.
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What Happened?
According to Sunrise police and the arrest report, the Uber driver picked up 32-year-old Emily Sabogal and her two children at a shopping plaza.
During the ride, the driver reportedly noticed that Sabogal was holding a cup that he believed contained alcohol.
Police said Sabogal later reached over the center console, took the driver’s phone and canceled the Uber ride.
She allegedly gave the driver $10 and asked him to stop near Northwest 108th Avenue and 50th Street.
Sabogal reportedly told the driver that she would return in about three minutes.
She didn’t.
The Driver Waited With the Children
According to police, the driver remained with the two children while waiting for their mother to return.
After more than an hour, he attempted to contact Sabogal.
Police said she told him she would return shortly, but she did not come back and eventually stopped responding.
The driver then called 911.
When officers arrived, they found the two children in the vehicle.
Police said the children appeared to be in good health and spirits, although they told officers they were hungry and thirsty.
Police Search for the Mother
Officers began looking for Sabogal.
She was eventually located at a shopping plaza approximately two miles from where the Uber driver had been waiting with the children.
Body-camera footage shows officers questioning her about why she left the children.
Sabogal reportedly told officers that her phone had died and gave other explanations for why she was away.
Police said she appeared intoxicated during the encounter.
Authorities also said investigators learned that Sabogal and her children had been at a restaurant earlier that evening, where employees reported that she had consumed multiple alcoholic drinks.
The Arrest
Sabogal was arrested and initially faced charges including child neglect and child desertion.
Later in March 2026, NBC 6 reported that she was facing two child-neglect charges, while the children’s father said the children were then living with him.
The case remains a legal matter, and the allegations against Sabogal have not been established as convictions.
Why the Bodycam Video Is Going Viral
The footage has been reposted across social-media platforms with captions such as:
“Uber Driver Babysits Two Toddlers for 2 Hours After Mom Vanishes.”
The underlying footage is real police body-camera footage from the Sunrise incident.
However, the word “babysits” can make the situation sound like the driver had agreed to provide childcare.
According to police, he was an Uber driver who remained with the children after their mother allegedly left the vehicle and failed to return.
The driver ultimately contacted police because he was concerned about the children.
A Disturbing Ride That Turned Into a Police Call
The case highlights how quickly an ordinary rideshare trip can turn into an emergency when a parent leaves young children with a stranger and does not return.
The children were found safe, and the Uber driver remained with them until officers arrived.
The mother now faces criminal charges related to the incident, while the legal process continues.
