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Dad Uses Stolen Car To Rescue 4 Kids After His Car Was Hijacked

Public/Screenshot/KSTP.com

Brianna Lyman News and Commentary Writer
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A Minneapolis dad sprung into action Wednesday night when a carjacker took his car with his four children inside of it, the father told local news outlet KSTP.

The incident unfolded at around 8:40 p.m., when the suspect arrived in a stolen vehicle near the 800 block of Russel Avenue North, according to Fox5. The suspect then exited the stolen vehicle and entered another, which had four children inside, all under the age of 5, the outlet reported.

The children’s parents, Derek and Deanah Gotchie, had parked the car near a friend’s home and were unloading items from the vehicle, according to KSTP. When Derek momentarily got out of the car to close the back door, the suspect jumped in, according to the outlet.

Gotchie immediately jumped into the stolen vehicle the suspect had initially arrived in, KSTP reported.

“I turn around, and I’m like, ‘what?'” Deanah said, according to the outlet. “I look out the door, and I see our tail lights leaving.”

Derek said he “didn’t know what to do” but knew he had to go after his kids, according to KSTP.

He chased the car and rear-ended it a few blocks away, forcing it to come to a stop, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Los Angeles Carjacking Victim Dies After Being Dragged Two Miles By Murder Suspect, Police Say)

“I just hit the back of my truck and pushed him into this alleyway to pin him against this fence,” Derek said, according to KSTP.

The unidentified suspect jumped out of the car and fled on foot, according to Fox5. No injuries were reported, and the incident remains under investigation. Police have not disclosed whether any arrests have been made, the outlet reported.