A Detroit woman had a narrow escape after jumping out of a rideshare vehicle on the I-96 freeway, in a panicked state induced by marijuana, authorities reported. The incident, which occurred around 4:45 p.m. Sunday, was initially flagged as a crash involving a pedestrian and escalated into a reported kidnapping situation, according to The Detroit News.
Michigan State Police were soon informed that the pedestrian, a 31-year-old woman from Detroit, had leaped from a moving vehicle. Witnesses described seeing the woman exiting a black car in the highway's left lane. Later, a man who identified himself as a rideshare driver contacted the police. He claimed the woman had bolted from his car, due to discomfort with the route he had chosen to get her downtown, officials said. This information was gathered by the Detroit Regional Communication Center, which played a key role in initially responding to the calls for help, as reported by MLive.
Upon reaching the hospital, the woman was declared alert and in stable condition by the medical staff. During the subsequent investigation and interview process, the State Police discerned that the woman was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the incident. Her heightened anxiety was corroborated by Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police, who told WWJ Newsradio 950, "During the interview it was determined she was under the influence of marijuana and had anxiety because she saw a sign that said Port Huron and panicked thinking he was taking her somewhere else." Shaw also emphasized how fortunate the woman was to have survived the dangerous ordeal relatively unscathed.
The authorities have since indicated that the kidnapping claim appears to be unfounded. After concluding their assessment, the State Police facilitated the return of the woman to her family's care, marking an end to what could have been a tragic event.
