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Nightmare In Newcastle: Suspects Steal Car With Baby Inside, Then Crash During Pursuit

NEWCASTLE (CBS13) — Two women are in custody after a car was stolen in Placer County with a baby inside, then crashed.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office says the vehicle with a couple's 8-month-old toddler inside was stolen from a daycare center in Auburn just before 7:30 a.m.

Deputies said the couple had just arrived at the daycare center on Live Oak Lane when they stepped away from the vehicle to walk their two-year-old child inside. That is when the two suspects reportedly stole the car.

The suspects were located driving on westbound Interstate 80 near Auburn and they fled from an attempted traffic stop. Eventually, the stolen vehicle was crashed into a power pole along the 8900 block of Highway 193. The suspects then got out and ran.

They were identified as Anastacia Andino, 23, of Folsom, and Roniqua Wartson, 29, of Elk Grove.

roniqua wartson
Roniqua Warston, 29 (credit: Placer County Sheriff's Office)
anastacia andino
Anastacia Andino, 23 (credit: Placer County Sheriff's Office)

Andino was the passenger in the vehicle and was arrested immediately. Deputies said Warston ran into a wooded area but was also detained a short while later.

Deputies say the baby is OK and has been reunited with his parents, who were still trying to absorb what happened. Mom and dad Korral and Elijah Atkinson say they're putting on a brave face after a normal daycare dropoff turned into their worst nightmare.

"It was just nice to see his face," Korral said.

"There's nothing worse than seeing a car that has your child in it driving away from you," Elijah said.

Highway 193 was closed in both directions between Old State Highway and Summer Star Way due to the incident. It reopened a little after noon.

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