BC Woman Regains $8,000 SmartDrive After 3‑Month Delay

Bronwyn Berg, a 55‑year‑old woman from Chemainus, B.C., has finally received her $8,000 SmartDrive wheelchair aid after a Toronto Lyft driver kept it for three months. The device, essential for negotiating hills and rough terrain, was left in the driver’s trunk on Oct. 7 while Berg toured Toronto for Thanksgiving. It disappeared on Oct. 13 when she reached the airport. Despite contacting Lyft, Berg and her son Magnus encountered a driver who demanded $30 for its return and then stopped answering calls. After Lyft decommissioned the driver and provided a prepaid FedEx label, the device was delivered to Magnus. Police involvement and public calls for stronger driver accountability highlighted the case.