Girl Recounts Crash With Stolen Patrol Car: ‘I'm Only 11. I Don't Know What to Do'

Eleven-year-old Valina Lams was on her way with her mom to Ross Dress for Less in Mission Valley when, suddenly, a patrol cruiser slammed into their car.

“Omigod. I’ve never been in a situation like this. It just happened,” the De Portola Middle School student told NBC 7.

The California Highway Patrol car had been hijacked by a handcuffed suspect, who fled from Mission Bay and led police on a wild chase, clipping several cars while fleeing.

One of those cars belonged to Valina's mom.

Valina said her mom was driving on Friars Road when she saw the patrol car coming toward their car. Moments later, she said patrol car smacked into their vehicle from behind.

That's when her mom pulled the car to the side of the car. Valina said her mom didn’t have a cellphone.

“It was really scary for me. I’m only 11. I don’t know what to do,” she said.

She thought the red-headed female suspect behind the wheel of the patrol car was going to jump into her mom’s car. But officers soon came, setting off a beanbag round and dragging the suspect from the vehicle.

“I was on the floor of the car and I was just praying,” Valina said.

Valin said after the crash that she's doing OK and tried to stay calm during the ordeal.

"I knew I was going to be fine," she said.

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