Carjackers crash stolen SUV
Published 11/1/07 in The Times-Herald
By ELIZABETH RICHARDSON

A Newnan businessman managed to escape with his life Wednesday afternoon when he was robbed at gunpoint by two men and then kidnapped — all during a carjacking. Both perpetrators were taken into custody following a police chase up Interstate 85 to the area of Collinsworth Road.

Shortly before 5 p.m., two males arrived at Lanier Used Cars, located at 182 Temple Ave., where they spoke with the owner, Stanley Lanier, according to Major James Yarbrough of the Coweta County Sheriff's Office. Lanier agreed to let the individuals test drive a 1998 Ford Explorer. Once inside the vehicle, the men proceeded to rob Lanier at gunpoint. The perpetrators finally let him out of the SUV at Haynes Auto Parts, located at 1045 Old Corinth Road near Millard Farmer Road south of Newnan, according to Yarbrough.

Lanier immediately notified police and gave officers a description of the offenders and the vehicle they had carjacked. Police units began their search on Millard Farmer Road. The stolen vehicle was located on Interstate 85 heading northbound. A police chase ensued when the suspects noticed they were being pursued by police, according to Yarbrough. The perpetrators wrecked the Ford Explorer in a construction zone near the 54 mile marker after hitting a concrete barricade. The Collinsworth exit is at the 56 mile marker.

Coweta County Emergency Medical Service responded to the scene to treat the perpetrators, who didn't appear to have sustained any serious injuries, according to Yarbrough. The names of the suspects were not available Wednesday evening. They will be charged with kidnapping, armed robbery and theft by taking motor vehicle, Yarbrough said.

http://content.times-herald.com/290189608067612.bsp

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Coweta Co. Car Chase Ends When Driver Crashes
Wednesday, 07 Nov 2007, 6:55 PM EST
Reported By: Doug Evans

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5) – A high-speed chase and crash on October 31 was caught on camera by a police cruiser. Inside the stolen SUV were two teens, including one who dialed 911 and pretended to be a hostage.

Deputies said there were two men in the stolen SUV, a 16-year-old driver and a 19-year-old passenger. The two suspects are accused of carjacking a Ford Explorer from Lanier Used Car Sales in Newnan. A salesman was in the vehicle to take the two suspects on a test drive, was released from the SUV at gunpoint just before the chase began.

Investigators said the chase reached speeds off over 90 miles an hour. At one point in the pursuit, the Coweta County 911 Center received a call from the 19-year-old passenger saying that he was a hostage inside the speeding SUV.

The chase ended when the SUV fishtailed and then wrecked. Deputies approached the vehicle and found the 16-year-old suspect was ejected nearly 50 feet and suffered a broken pelvis and foot. The 19-year-old who was riding in the back seat suffered a concussion.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com