EXCLUSIVE: Family Speaks Out After Girl Escapes Alleged Abduction In Delaware County
By Charlotte Huffman
RIDLEY PARK, Pa., (CBS) -- Ridley Park police are investigating an attempted abduction Tuesday morning.
A 7th grader at Ridley Park Middle School says a man driving a white van snatched her off the street while she was walking to school alone.
"It is frightening. You can't trust anyone these days," said the 12-year-old's uncle, Kevin Ryan.
"She said that an African American male in a white van drove up to her and physically took her and put her in the back of the van."
Ryan says the incident happened at the intersection of W. Rodgers and Harrison Streets.
"When they got approximately three to five minutes down the street she realized she was probably at a red light because the van was stopped for an extended time. She was able to open up the back door of the van and take off running."
Ryan says his niece managed to find a crossing guard who called police.
By Tuesday afternoon, the district had made robo calls to parents and aired a warning on the district's TV channel asking parents to remind their children to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious behavior.
Many parents rushed to the school to pick up their children when school let out for the day.
"There are a lot more parents here today than there normally are picking kids up," said parent, Suzanne Chapman.
"I'm totally freaking out. I was here right at 2:00 to pick her up," said another parent, Dina McNicholas.
Ryan says his niece described her abductor as a black male, 6 feet tall, wearing an orange shirt, blue denim jeans and driving a white van with a red ladder.
If you have any information regarding the event you're asked to call Ridley Park or Ridley Township Police Departments.
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