A Somber Scene
The air inside the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, is thick with silence despite the steady shuffle of visitors. From the window, the famous grassy knoll comes into view, and my eyes are drawn to the small X on the road below, marking the exact spot where U.S. President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed on November 22, 1963.
But my mind wanders to an often-overlooked detail: his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, didn’t come to work alone. His coworker, Buell Wesley Frazier, drove him to the Texas School Book Depository that day. As a rideshare driver, I find this seemingly mundane moment strangely significant..
The Evolution of Rideshare
Ridesharing, whether through an app or a neighborly favor, has always been a part of everyday life. Before Uber and Lyft, people carpooled, hitchhiked, or caught rides with friends—sometimes for a small fee, but often to share the commute. It was an arrangement built on trust and necessity.
But as with all things, there were frustrations. Generous drivers sometimes found themselves taken advantage of, which gave rise to the memorable phrase: "Cash, Grass, or Ass—No one rides for free!" What was once an informal agreement is now a multi-billion-dollar industry, simplified through technology yet still rooted in the same basic principle: offering someone a ride.
A Routine Ride, A Sinister Cargo
For 19-year-old Buell Wesley Frazier, the morning of November 22, 1963, was another workday. Like clockwork, he picked up Lee Harvey Oswald in his black 1954 Chevrolet 4-Door Bel Air, a dependable car that had carried them to the Texas School Book Depository many times before. That morning felt no different—except for the long, bulky package Oswald carried with him."
When Frazier asked what it was, Oswald casually replied that it contained "curtain rods" for his apartment. It seemed innocent enough.
But inside that unremarkable package was something far more sinister: the rifle Oswald would use to assassinate President John F. Kennedy later that day.
Frazier, none the wiser, drove Oswald from Irving to Dallas. When they arrived at the depository, Frazier parked, and the two men parted ways. To Frazier, it was just another commute, indistinguishable from any other.
A Rideshare Driver in the Crosshairs
But by that afternoon, everything changed. Barely two hours after the assassination, Frazier found himself in the crosshairs of a police investigation. Officers arrested him, suspecting he might have been Oswald's accomplice.
Hauled to the Dallas police station, Frazier endured hours of grueling interrogation. He was fingerprinted, photographed, and even subjected to a lie detector test.
Throughout it all, Frazier insisted on his innocence. He had offered a colleague a ride to work—nothing more. And yet, his name would forever be linked to one of the most tragic events in American history.
It's hard not to wonder how small twists of fate—a flat tire, a sick day, or even a random traffic delay—might have changed that day. But history doesn't entertain "what ifs."
The Weight of a Simple Ride
Today, we summon rides without a second thought, often unaware of the stories carried by our drivers or fellow passengers. Frazier's story serves as a haunting reminder that even the most mundane actions—offering someone a lift—can be entwined with history in ways we can't anticipate.
Frazier's kindness that morning was an innocent act, a simple favor for a coworker. Yet, in the blink of an eye, it became entangled in one of the most shocking moments in history.
Every time a driver offers a ride, they never truly know who is stepping into their car—or what unseen stories and consequences they might be carrying with them. Most drivers assume their passengers are like any other, but as Frazier's story shows, sometimes an ordinary ride collides with something far more significant than anyone could imagine.
A Modern Reflection
In an age where apps have streamlined the process of getting from point A to point B, it's easy to forget that behind every ride are people—drivers and passengers with their own stories, secrets, and sometimes, histories we may never know.
Frazier's story is a chilling example of how one ordinary moment can intersect with history, forever altering the lives of everyone involved.
As a driver myself, I can’t help but wonder: who’s sitting in my back seat?
Have you ever had an unexpected or memorable experience using a rideshare service? Share your story in the comments below. Your insights could help others stay safe and aware when using ridesharing apps.
Let's continue the conversation and work together to create a safer and more positive experience for everyone.
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