WOODBRIDGE, Va. (WUSA9) -- A woman was assaulted while getting a ride from someone who picked her up a Prince William County commuter lot Tuesday morning, according to police.
It happened in the commuter lot off of Horner Road around 5:30 a.m. in the "slug" line. Slugs are people who leave their cars in commuter lots and ride with strangers into the city. It's mutually beneficial - a free ride to the carless and an extra body to the driver so they can hop in the HOV lane. Hundreds of people do it every day, and without issue, until Tuesday.
WUSA9 asked one commuter Jodi Morgan if she ever felt unsafe slugging.
"Never," she said. "I've been doing it for four years now. I've never felt unsafe."
Jodi Morgan was among the many people shocked when we told them what happened.
Police say a woman jumped in a car with a man she didn't know and went up I-95. The man exposed himself to the woman and then sexually assaulted her, according to police. He eventually dropped her off and then she called for help.
Wednesday, police were handing out flyers with the man's picture and description, telling sluggers to be aware and report anyone suspicious.
"Everybody is pretty good," said slugger Missy Tiller. "I mean we normally don't talk, we just ride to work. Everybody seems to be fine, I've never had any problems."
Missy operates on the buddy system with her friend, Dave Morales, just to be safe.
"I've been slugging for about five years," said Morales. "I mean, when she first started that was one of her concerns. I said, 'well I'll ride with you,' even though I thought, 'that's completely asinine.' I would never think that would ever happen here, but um, wow."
The suspect was driving an older model, white Honda sedan and is described as a short Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s with a thin build, dark hair and a mustache, according to police. He was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and beige pants.
