Lyft Driver Charged With Rape In St. Louis

53-year-old Larry Donnell Ward, of St. Peters, was charged Thursday with first-degree rape and kidnapping.

According to the probable cause statement, Ward, who no longer works for Lyft, sexually assaulted the woman in June after turning off his ride-sharing location software and deviating from the route to the woman’s requested destination. A rape kit was tested and the results matched Ward’s DNA, according to the statement.

It isn’t clear why it took several months to file the charge.

Lyft described the allegations against the driver as ’’appalling″ in a statement. The company said it was cooperating with the investigation and has reached out to the rider to offer support.

His bond is set at $100,000 cash, although he isn’t yet in custody.