Smyrna Woman Tracks Down Stolen Van Via Facebook And Then Things Got Wild

SMYRNA, TN — Suspecting her best friend — well, former best friend — had stolen her minivan, Smyrna's Jennifer Barnes logged onto Facebook and hoped the social network's friend locating service could help her track it down.

Indeed, Barnes told News 2, it showed her friend in Hermitage, so Barnes and her husband took a drive to try and retrieve the vehicle. And then, things got a little hairy.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

After seeing the van — her best friend inside and that woman's boyfriend in the driver's seat — Barnes hopped out of her car and climbed in the passenger seat of the stolen van and then the driver took off.

“I jumped through the passenger window and went on a ride. We were probably doing 100 mph on Matterhorn Drive with me hanging out the window, and my supposedly best friend punching me in the head, and her boyfriend was yelling, ‘Get her out! Push her out!'” she told WKRN.

When the driver took a sharp turn, Barnes swung back inside the van and grabbed the keys from the ignition once it came to a stop. Her husband blocked the van in and the three people inside fled. They are still on the run and Barnes said she plans to press charges.

Barnes told WKRN she drove her van back to Smyrna and called the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department, which found 66 needles, drugs, jewelry and a bolt cutter inside.

Because they were never sure they'd ever see their van again, the Barneses fell behind on their bills saving up for a new car. They've started a GoFundMe to catch up on their rent.

Image via Shutterstock