Melanie, 24, and Aaron Richman, 22, were in the process of moving from Colorado to Missouri on Tuesday when they parked at a gas station in Kansas City, ABC News reports.
They stepped away from the car momentarily and a man lurking in the carpark took the opportunity to jump in the driver's seat of the car. Surveillance video from the petrol station shows Melanie grab the side of the car's passenger side window when she sees the car being driven out of the carpark. She clings to the car and is dragged along the ground for several metres before losing her grip. Everything had appeared normal when the family arrived at the gas station. Check the vid:
Aaron Richman is seen trying to entertain his baby daughter as they refuel and go to the bathroom.
"I'm just jumping on the tail of the car, making it go up and down, just trying to keep her occupied and entertained," he said.
"Just letting my guard down for that split second, everything went to hell."
The Richmans then walk away from the car to speak with their relatives as the attacker walks across the parking lot. He spots the car, looks towards where the Richmans have gone, and then quickly walks to the driver's side window. The man jumps into the car, seemingly unaware of the baby in the backseat, starts the engine and speeds across the parking lot. The Richmans race after him.
It was really just instinct," Aaron Richmond said.
"Everything happened so fast. We really had to react. There was no time to worry about if he had a weapon."
As Melanie lies hunched after falling from the car Aaron managed to dive into the car's open passenger window.
"I was just sitting upside down in the passenger seat kicking him and telling him my baby was in the car. 'You're stealing my car. Get out of my car,'" he said.
With Aaron in the car the carjacker panicked, driving onto a curb and making a run for it.
The carjacker has not yet been caught. Be Safe out there yall.