Incredible details have emerged of how a young woman who was allegedly stabbed before being stuffed into the boot of a Holden Commodore managed to alert passing motorists for help.
The woman, 24, managed to smash the tail light and wave her bloodied hand through the hole as the car was driven along the Hume Highway in Berrima in the NSW Southern Highlands on Wednesday morning, police said.
She managed to attract the attention of a passing truck driver, who called police.
Officers stopped the car shortly before midday and allegedly found the woman suffering stab wounds to her knee, thigh and forearm as her two alleged kidnappers were arrested.
The woman’s stunning escape was similar to scenes from the US psychological crime thriller movie The Call.
The 2013 blockbuster is about a 911 operator who takes a life-changing call from a teenage girl who has been abducted and locked in the boot of a car.
The operator tells the girl how to smash the tail light and raise the alarm by hanging out her hand to alert passing motorists.
Latia Henderson (left), 18, and Kayley Ketley, 24, were charged with a string of offences after the woman was allegedly found in the boot of a car with stab wounds
Police arrested Latia Henderson, 18, who was allegedly behind the wheel, and her passenger Kayley Ketley, 24.
Henderson was charged with unlawful wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm, detaining to gain advantage causing bodily harm, driving a vehicle without owner’s consent, and unlicensed driving.
Co-accused Ketley faces the same charges, except she was also accused of drug possession and driving while disqualified instead of unlicensed.
The pair, who are from Campbelltown in Sydney’s south-west, were both refused bail to appear in Picton Local Court on Thursday.
The alleged victim, 24, was treated at the scene for non life-threatening injuries before taken to Liverpool Hospital.
She had recently arrived in Sydney from interstate and may have been inside the boot for up to an hour before passing motorists raised the alarm by calling triple zero.
Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said a passing truck driver noticed the alleged victim’s hand waving through the hole where the tail light was.
Latia Henderson, 18, (left) and Kayley Ketley, 24, (right) were refused bail to appear in Picton Local Court on Thursday morning
‘[The car] was stopped by police after an officer saw a hand also protruding from the tail light,’ he alleged.
‘Some excellent work done by the motorist who notified police and we can’t thank the motorist enough.’
The motive behind the incident isn’t yet known, but Det Insp Bernie said it’s ‘very fortunate’ the young woman was found alive.
Police believe she was in there for ‘some time’ and are investigating if the incident was a drug-related kidnapping.
Related Post
The Holden Commodore is now being forensically examined.
Daily Mail has previously compiled a video demonstrating how to escape if you are ever abducted and trapped in a car boot.
The first and one of the most important steps is to remain calm and not panic.
The next is find a source of light, such as your phone or feel around in the trunk as the kidnapper may keep a torch for emergencies.
Once you’ve located your light, look around the trunk for the emergency latch to slide or press open the trunk to escape.
If the vehicle is still moving, wave your arm outside the trunk to get the attention of another driver.
Once the car comes to a stop, jump out and run.
A driver called police after noticing the 24-year-old’s hand hanging out of a broken tail light in the boot of the Commodore, police said (pictured)
