Man jumps into vehicle at Chattanooga gas station, speeds off with passenger inside

A passenger in a vehicle left running at the Midnight Oil gas station at 4004 Rossville Blvd. took a ride that he hadn’t intended to take.

Gilbert Johnson told police that he was sitting in the back seat of a friend’s car when she got out to go into the convenience store. A white male then jumped into the vehicle and sped off with the car and Johnson inside, he said.

Johnson said he picked up a hammer and grabbed the suspect in attempt to stop him. The suspect drew a knife and the two fought until the car hit another vehicle head-on.

After the collision, the driver of the other vehicle jumped out and ran as did Johnson. The suspect then sped away in the vehicle, police say.

Police are trying to locate the driver of the second vehicle as well as its owner. Johnson was taken to a hospital with complaints of neck pain.

The theft suspect, described only as a white male, has not been located and nor has the vehicle. Chattanooga police say more details will follow further investigation.