Two university students in Chania, Crete, were forced to jump out of a moving car to escape a dangerous situation after accepting a hitchhiking ride from a 21-year-old man on Saturday, July 26. The incident escalated into a dramatic police pursuit involving the young man and his 57-year-old father, both of whom now face serious criminal charges.
Hitchhiking Incident Sparks Panic
The events unfolded early Saturday morning when three female students attempted to hitch a ride from the area of Kounoupidiana to return home. They were picked up by a 21-year-old driver in a luxury vehicle, accompanied by his partner. However, once inside, the women quickly became alarmed as the driver began speeding and performing reckless maneuvers, frightening the passengers.
Despite their repeated pleas for him to stop, the driver ignored them. In distress, the students called Greece’s emergency number, 112, for help.
Police Chase Through the Streets of Chania
At the same time, a police patrol had already noticed the erratic driving and signaled the vehicle to stop using lights and sirens. Instead, the driver accelerated, triggering a high-speed chase through the streets of Chania. Police vehicles and four officers on motorbikes joined the pursuit.
During the chase, the driver attempted multiple times to ram police officers in an effort to escape.
Students Flee Vehicle at Traffic Light
The car briefly stopped at a red light, allowing two of the three students to escape by opening the door and jumping out. Officers quickly secured them and transported them to a safe location where they later gave statements.
Father Joins Pursuit, Crashes into Police Vehicle
In a shocking twist, the 21-year-old driver contacted his father for help during the chase. The 57-year-old responded by crashing his own car into a police vehicle in an attempt to assist his son in escaping custody.
Officers responded by immediately arresting both men. One officer had already fired two shots at the tires of the younger man’s vehicle in an attempt to immobilize it.
Charges and Investigation
Following the incident, both father and son were charged with multiple serious offenses, including attempted murder, violence against public officials, dangerous driving, and other traffic violations.
The 21-year-old was taken to the investigating judge and is expected to testify on Wednesday. His father, however, experienced a health issue after the incident and was hospitalized.
During a search, authorities confiscated two mobile phones and €1,750 in cash from the suspects.
