Woman nearly carjacked after stopping for dummy in road

NEWPORT, N.C. -- A sheriff's office says a woman narrowly escaped being carjacked after spotting what she thought was a child sitting in the middle of the road in the dark of night.

It turned out to be a dummy, dressed in children's clothing. And as the woman slowed her car, two men wearing dark hoodies approached and pulled on her door handles.

She sped away and called for help as the suspects fled, according to the sheriff's office in Carteret County, North Carolina.

Maj. Jason Wank says authorities destroyed the dummy later Sunday, just in case.

On Thursday, deputies said three juveniles may have been responsible for the incident. One of the juveniles, ages 10, 14 and 17, told investigators that this was a "prank" to "freak out" someone who would think they hit an actual person.