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Confusion leads to CMPD chasing wrong vehicle following carjacking

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An overnight police chase on Interstate 85 ended after the driver ditched the car and ran off -- but it turns out officers were chasing the wrong vehicle.

Police said they were trying to track down robbery suspects in a stolen car but a language barrier led to confusion over the description of that stolen car, and led them to chase the wrong vehicle.

Just before midnight, police said someone stole a man’s vehicle at gunpoint at the Economy Inn on Tom Hunter Road, near I-85 and West Sugar Creek Road.

The victim, who speaks Spanish, called 911 with the help of a friend who was translating, and reported that two people stole his car at gunpoint.

Police said they were told it was a silver Toyota Corolla.

A few minutes later, officers spotted a Toyota Camry with two people inside and tried to stop it, but that driver took off.

The chase went up I-85 into Cabarrus County before the driver turned around on Poplar Tent Road and went south on I-85 back into Mecklenburg County.

Back at the motel, as officers spoke with the victim face-to-face, they learned he was actually driving a silver Toyota SUV, not a Corolla.

Police then called off their pursuit but found that car abandoned a short time later on Equipment Drive. The driver ran from the scene and police haven't found him and don't know why he took off in the first place.

Police are still searching for the carjacking suspects and the stolen SUV.

The victim at the motel was not hurt.

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