Man Sought in Freeway Attack on Woman

Authorities are looking for a man who attacked a woman and tried to force her into his pickup after she stopped on the Orange Freeway to inspect a tire earlier this week.

California Highway Patrol officials said the attempted kidnapping occurred about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday just north of East Orangewood Avenue, where the victim pulled onto the right shoulder of the southbound lanes.

After checking the right rear tire for damage, the victim returned to the driver’s side of the car and was grabbed from behind by a man who started to drag her to his pickup, CHP spokeswoman Angel Johnson said.

The man bit the woman’s neck several times and continued to pull her to the dark blue Toyota truck, which she hadn’t seen or heard drive up behind her, Johnson said.

“The victim fought back and managed to escape,” she said. “Her 4-year-old child was in the car, and I’m sure that motivated her.”

The man fled as the woman got back in the car, Johnson said. He is described as having a heavy Spanish accent, green eyes and dark brown hair cut into a flattop. He wore light blue jeans, black shoes and a white polo-style shirt with an emblem stitched on the left breast that contained the letters “C-O-M-P” at the end, Johnson said. His truck was an older model with a gray interior.

The victim suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries during the attack, but was lucky to be alive, Johnson said.

“Basically, we had an attempted kidnapping out there and no witnesses,” she said. “It makes you never want to get out of your car.”

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to call the CHP at (714) 223-5454.