Iowa City Police: 2 People Jump From Runaway Van After Driver Refuses to Stop

Two passengers got more than they bargained for when they stopped for a van ride early Friday morning.

According to an Iowa City Police complaint, at about 2:07 a.m. this morning a minivan driven by Antoinette Denise Grant, 26, of Cedar Rapids stopped to pick up two unnamed people who were asking for a ride in Iowa City.

Once Grant arrived at the agreed upon location, an argument ensued about payment for the ride, with one of the passengers paying $10 and the other refusing to pay any money.

At this point, Grant allegedly then began to drive away and refused to let both passengers out of the vehicle, saying she was driving to Cedar Rapids. One of the passengers called 911 for assistance while in the vehicle but Grant still refused to stop. The two passengers then decided to jump from the vehicle as it was entering Interstate 80 from Highway 1.

Grant was later stopped on Interstate 80 near the North Dodge Street exit as officers located the vehicle description given by the passengers. Upon contact with Grant, she allegedly showed signs of intoxication, with blood-shot watery eyes and smelling of alcohol and marijuana, according to the complaint. Grant refused all post arrest testing.

Grant was charged with two counts of false imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor, and one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.