They were about 20 miles away on the two-and-a-half hour drive when Williams realized there was a problem.
“I noticed trucks and cars, there are a lot of red lights in front of me,” he said.
He tried to take an alternate route, but police directed him back to the Interstate because those roads were also closed due to downed trees and power lines.
“Once we get back to I-95, my GPS instantly updates and adds another hour and 30 minutes to the trip,” Williams said.
He said he continued to monitor his passenger and offer her drinks and snacks that he kept in the car.
“She tells me she’s fine, but I overheard her talking on the phone with family and friends and I can hear she’s exhausted, emotional and tired,” she said.
Williams said she had no blankets in the car and was concerned about running out of gas because she ran the car to take advantage of the heat.
He was finally able to follow a work truck and a few other cars, turn around on I-95, and head back to DC.
Williams did not want to leave the passenger alone at Union Station, so she convinced her parents to let her get her a hotel room, with her own money, so she could rest and be safe.
Parents were reluctant at first, but agreed that it was the best idea.
“They don’t know me, I don’t know them, and I understand it,” Williams said. “They just want to make sure their child is safe.”
He had her check into the hotel around 8 a.m. and offered to drive the passenger back to Williamsburg for free once the roads were clear.
A friend of her family was able to take her home.
“So around 8:30 on Tuesday night, she texted me and said I was safe,” he said. “She thanked me for everything and her parents had also thanked me, for doing what I did for their daughter because I didn’t have to.”
Uber will reimburse Williams for the cost of the hotel room and thanked him for doing so much for his passenger.
“Mr. Williams did his best during this stressful situation, and we appreciate his thoughtful actions,” a company spokesperson said in an email to CNN.
Williams was paid $ 107 for the trip, but his extraordinary customer service has earned him a new opportunity.
Williams said it would train other drivers on customer service and vehicle maintenance.
“We are delighted,” a spokeswoman said in an email to CNN. “DaVante is exactly the type of security and customer-centric leader we are looking for to help lead our DC presence.”
Williams said they are still working on the details of the offer because he works full-time as a property manager and realtor.
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