‘Help me!’ Grandmother drives off with accused carjacker in van, California cops say

A grandmother driving a minivan with her daughter and young granddaughter inside got a shock when a stranger jumped in the back while she was stopped at a red light, California police say.

He ordered the woman to drive somewhere in the 12:25 p.m. incident Tuesday, Feb. 1, but instead she pulled into a nearby gas station, San Jose police reported on Twitter.

“She was able to drive on in a panicked state, just a couple blocks down the street,” Officer Steven Aponte told KTVU.

The woman then jumped out of the minivan, pleading for help from onlookers at a nearby taco truck, KPIX reported.

“The (grandmother) said ‘help me, help me,’ and the guy started chasing her, so she left the baby with me, screaming,” taco truck worker Maritza Natareno told KNTV. She hid the girl inside the truck while other witnesses called 911.

Officers arrived and arrested Tyrone Merritt, 34, on suspicion of “multiple felonies,” police reported on Twitter. They said Merritt is on probation for auto theft.

No injuries were reported, police said.

This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 7:33 AM with the headline "‘Help me!’ Grandmother drives off with accused carjacker in van, California cops say."