Victim in terrifying South Bend carjacking incident shares story
SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- The victim of a shocking South Bend carjacking shared her story and how she escaped for the first time on Friday with ABC 57.
Sarah Brown, the victim of the carjacking, told ABC 57 that the life has been difficult for her whole family since the incident on September 22nd.
“I’m not going to let this guy kill us,” explained Sarah Brown “I’m not going to die like this,” said Sarah Brown.
The incident all began at the intersection of Main and Sample streets, according to court documents. James Michael Brown, who has no relation to the victims, allegedly crashed into the back of the Brown’s family car.
Edward Brown then got out of the vehicle to check on his wife, Sarah, and two sons, according to Sarah Brown. James Brown then allegedly got out of his car and started running. Edward called after him, asking him to stay at the scene to wait for police to arrive and exchange information after the crash, according to Sarah Brown.
James Brown allegedly pushed Edward down and drove off in the car at a high rate of speed towards Michigan Street.
Sarah told ABC 57 that is when James threatened the family because they called him back to exchange information stating, “I am going to kill all of you, you are all going to die today!,” according to court documents.
“He says ‘Well you called me back so we’re all going to die today,’” said Sarah Brown.
When they arrived at the intersection of Michigan and Sample Streets, Sarah recalled that James slammed on the breaks. Sarah then reached over and turned the car off, according to court documents.
Sarah told ABC 57 that she knew the split second at the intersection was her last chance to save herself and her family.
“We’ve got to get out of here…we’ve got to stop,” said Sarah Brown. “There’s got to be some kind of way because he is planning on killing us…we are going to die if I don’t do something,” said Sarah Brown.
Sarah and James fought back and forth for possession of the keys, but when James could not get the keys back, he ran away.
Everyone involved was transported to the ER—including the suspect in a police vehicle.
Sarah Brown recalled the look in the man’s eyes that she told ABC 57 is something she will never forget.
“He had that look as if he wanted to kill me,” said Sarah Brown. “He just stared at me, I stared at him, but I wanted him to know that he did not intimidate me to the point where I wouldn’t look at him. I stared back at him and let him know ‘Yeah, you picked the wrong one, buddy,’” said Sarah Brown.
James Brown does have another conviction for theft of a vehicle in April of 2018. A three-year-old boy was in the backseat of that vehicle.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the victims' family. If you'd like to donate, click here.