An Uber driver was pushed into the passenger seat when an armed man stole her vehicle Friday morning and led police on a brief chase through southeast Atlanta, authorities said.
The pursuit ended when the gunman crashed the car at the intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Boulevard and took off running, according to Atlanta police. Officers and police dogs searched the Sweet Auburn neighborhood for hours Friday, but the man was never located.
According to police, the kidnapping was reported about 1 a.m. in southwest Atlanta. The Uber driver told investigators she was dropping off a paying passenger near the Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA station when a man approached her and asked for a ride.
She told him to get in, but he had no intention of paying, a police spokesman said in a statement.
“Once inside the vehicle, the suspect revealed a firearm and demanded the victim to comply with his demands,” the spokesman said. “The victim complied and dialed 911 to leave an open line with dispatch until units were able to track her coordinates in the vehicle.”
Her silver Honda Fit was first spotted headed east on I-20 near the Hamilton E. Holmes exit. Officers said they were unable to stop the vehicle, and it was soon spotted again in Sweet Auburn, where officers attempted a second traffic stop. The Honda “continued fleeing until it lost control and struck a fire hydrant,” according to police.
The Uber driver stayed with the vehicle and was not injured. Officers recovered a shotgun from her back seat, the spokesman said.
The suspected kidnapper has not been identified.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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