Woman Unknowingly Becomes Getaway Driver

An elderly woman in Pennsylvania is just glad to be okay after she unknowingly gave a bank robber a lift, essentially becoming his getaway driver.

It all started as 75 year-old Juanita Bland stopped near a post office when the electric sliding door of her minivan became stuck.

"I couldn't get out of the van, so I waited a few moments hoping somebody would walk by who might be able to help", says Bland. "Then I saw this fellow walking my way, so I beckoned him over and asked if he could please help with the door".

Unknown to her, the man had just robbed a PNC Bank branch. He fixed the door, and then got into the passenger seat and asked for a ride.

"He didn't seem threatening or anything, so I said 'OK' and drove off", she said. He got off a few blocks later, got into a white sedan and drove off.

Bland said she realised what had happened when a friend called her, worried that she had been abducted, because she heard on a police scanner that the suspect had gotten into her van.

"When I think back now of what could have happened, I feel blessed that I'm OK", Bland says.

 � Copyright 2004-2015 The News Vault. All rights reserved.