On Thursday, a woman in Waterford, New Jersey, narrowly escaped a violent carjacking thanks to the quick actions of some good Samaritans. The incident began when a 45-year-old suspect crashed his car into a wooded area and then approached Mary Beth Ciarlante’s vehicle, forcing his way inside and demanding she drive him away. She resisted, fighting back and sounding her horn to draw attention.
Witnesses, including Army reservists and a Philadelphia police officer, quickly came to her aid. One man used a fire extinguisher to break a window, allowing the rescuers to pull Ciarlante to safety while the suspect was restrained. One of the first responders, Joseph Knazek, describes seeing the suspect strangling her, praising her bravery during the struggle.
Ciarlante says she’s deeply grateful to the strangers who helped her, calling them her "guardian angels." She credits her determination to her thoughts of her children, saying she was not going to give up. The suspect was arrested and is facing multiple charges, including first-degree kidnapping and carjacking. While Ciarlante is a little bruised and sore from the experience, she’s reportedly in good spirits.
Source: 6 ABC