A TEENAGER who managed to escape after a lorry driver allegedly tried to pull her into his vehicle after persuading her to stop on the A180 has spoken of her traumatic experience.
Humberside Police are investigating the incident, which happened as 19-year-old Laura Thomas was on her way to visit her two friends from college in Grimsby.
A warning has been issued following the incident on Friday (January 9), which happened on the A180, just after the turn-off for the A15 at around 2.20pm.
A spokeswoman for the force said the woman reported overtaking the lorry on the A180.
She said: "Following completion of the manoeuvre, the woman stated she noticed the driver of the lorry flashing the lights of the vehicle continuously which she interpreted to indicate something was wrong with her vehicle.
"On that basis, the woman stopped in a layby and stated that the driver of the lorry did the same, pulling up behind her.
"After checking her car, the woman stated to police that she went over to the lorry's passenger door to speak to the driver, who she then claims tried to pull her into the cab of the lorry.
"The woman stated she was able to pull free from the driver and got back into her car."
Laura said the experience was "scary", adding: "He was flashing his lights at me and I pulled up on the next lay by.
"I stayed in my car for a little bit to see if there was anything on my dashboard and I walked around my car.
"I thought there might have been a light out or something."
Laura said she went over to the lorry to see what the driver wanted.
She claims the driver told her "you look nice" and she said he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into the lorry.
Laura said: "I told him to get off me.
"He said 'I only want a kiss and cuddle' and he told me he could take me to where I wanted to be."
Laura said she told the driver to get off her and managed to get away, before contacting police.
She said she feels "lucky" to have got away and said "I did not know if he was going to let go".
Laura, from Withernsea, added: "It is still hard to deal with and I am having nightmares.
"I will think twice before stopping and it has taught me to stop in a safe place, like a public place."
Police say the driver is described as a white man in his 40s, of heavy build with short, light brown hair.
A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said: "He was wearing a green, long-sleeved jumper with a light brown shirt collar visible underneath the jumper.
"The lorry is described as an articulated lorry with a light-coloured cab, possibly white or silver, and was pulling a large curtain side trailer which was light blue.
"The trailer was said to have some lettering on the side towards the rear.
"The lorry was said to drive off in the direction of Grimsby."
It is believed that several vehicles may have passed by as the incident took place and police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting log number 460 of Friday, January 9.
