INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Thieves plowed into a car filled with teenagers and a baby while they were trying to escape police Monday.
Now, the driver is searching for the stranger who helped her following the frightening crash.
"It was horrifying at first," Destiny Atkinson told 41 Action News.
Independence Police said the crooks pulled up to the Bank of the West located 4610 S. Noland Rd. in a stolen pickup around 3 p.m.
They tried to cash a stolen check at the drive through, but bank employees called police.
When the thieves heard the sirens, they took off south on Noland Road and blew through a red light at Highway 40, and right into Atkinson's car.
"I spun and stopped. My air bags deployed, and he drove up onto median," Atkinson said.
Police arrested the two men in the stolen pickup truck. They are being held on forgery charges.
The 16-year-old said a woman ran up to help her, her two co-workers as well as the baby of one of her co-workers.
"She like had us get out of the car and was like 'grab your wallets' – she grabbed my friend's wallet, I already had my purse – she walked us to the median and she stayed with us until the police told us that she could leave," Atkinson said.
The stranger didn't reveal her name or leave any contact information.
"I think I would have gone into a more panicked state than what I was in if it wasn't for her helping at first. I think I would have not been as calm and collected as I was trying to be," Atkinson said.
Atkinson is now searching for her.
All she remembers the woman was driving a white mid-size car. She could be in her late 20s, petite, about 5'4, with brunette or blondish hair.
"I didn't know what to do and I just want to thank her because she must have been a mom or something because the first reaction was to get out and help," Atkinson said.
If you know anything about the woman who helped during this accident – please call 41 Action News at 816-932-4141.
