A South Carolina man has been charged with the kidnapping and brutal murder of a 21-year-old University of South Carolina student from New Jersey who mistakenly got into his car, thinking he was her Uber driver.

Columbia Police Chief William Holbrook said late Saturday night that Nathaniel Rowland, 24, was picked up in a traffic stop and Samantha Josephson’s blood was found in his car, Fox News reported.

After killing her, he dumped her body in a wooded area, cops said.

Josephson, who had been out with friends at the popular Bird Dog bar in Columbia, had been planning to attend Drexel University’s law school in Philadelphia next fall.

After she got into Rowland’s car, the real Uber driver showed up, but left because she wasn’t there.

Her body was found by two hunters in a rural area near Rowland’s home.

Police initiated traffic stops and asked Rowland, to step out of his car. He took off on foot, but was collared after a short pursuit.

Josephson’s friends had called police when she couldn’t be found at her downtown residence and didn’t answer phone calls.

Authorities refused to comment on how the political-science major had died.

Holbrook said Saturday night, “our hearts are broken. There is nothing tougher to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered.’’

Her dad, Seymour Josephson, posted a heart-breaking quote on Facebook: “I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life.

“I could continue to write about her, but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this,” he said, referring to a shot of the proud dad and a smiling Samantha posing on a couch, her right arm wrapped around his shoulders.