Tom GantertAtlanta, GA – A pregnant woman stole a news van with a pregnant reporter in back on Tuesday and lead police on a chase before she crashed.
The incident occurred at about 5:30 a.m. on April 14 when Atlanta police responded to a single-vehicle wreck in mid-town Atlanta, according to the Merced Sun-Star.
Upon arrival, officers found a 2011 Toyota Highlander crashed into the security gate of an apartment complex, but no driver in sight.
Meanwhile, a WGCL news van was setting up to do a report near Atlantic Station with reporter Iyani Hughes inside the vehicle editing, the Merced Sun-Star reported.
That’s when a pregnant woman appeared out of nowhere and carjacked the TV news van.
Police said 38-year-old Seniqua Lunsford hopped in the running vehicle and sped off, initially oblivious to the pregnant news reporter in the back cargo area, the Merced Sun-Star reported.
Hughes screamed for Lunsford to stop driving but the carjacker ignored her, WSB reported.
“The reporter inside the vehicle tried to make the woman stop and pull over,” Atlanta Police Department Officer Steve Avery told reporters. “The suspect wouldn’t do that, so she did the smart thing. She got into her seat and put her seat belt on.”
Hughes also screamed for help from nearby police, and officers who heard her cries jumped into a police car and followed the van, WSB reported.
Lunsford continued driving until she crashed the van at a traffic circle.
Hughes wasn’t hurt in the wreck, WSB reported.
Lunsford was transported to the hospital with an injury to her arm.
Police said Lunsford was behaving strangely at the scene, and that it wasn’t clear whether the carjacker had injured her arm in her first or second vehicle crash of the morning, the Merced Sun-Star reported.
“They don’t know if she is emotionally disturbed or on intoxicants, drugs, something like that,” Officer Avery said. “That hasn’t been determined yet.”
Lunsford was arrested and charged with kidnapping.
Officials said there would likely be additional charges, according to the Merced Sun-Star.