Woman speaks out after tow truck chases car while husband is driving and reveals terrifying moment they 'freaked out'

A HEART-stopping scene caught on camera by onlookers captured the harrowing moment a sedan driver was nearly whisked away by a tow truck.

A Toyota Corolla driver was making his way back from a shopping trip, when inexplicably, a tow truck operator attempted to lift the vehicle.

Video from pedestrians showed a tow truck lunging at a CorollaCredit: ABC7The driver said the truck gave chase for several blocksCredit: ABC7

"We were at a stoplight and minding our own business," a passenger in the Corolla, named Joanne, who didn't reveal her last name told San Francisco ABC affiliate KGO.

"We were freaking out."

The woman said she and her husband were traveling back home in the California city when the truck suddenly bore down on their vehicle.

In a busy intersection with several cars and pedestrians, Joanne said the couple was passing a Waymo self-driving car.

The tow truck in front of them started backing up, giving the couple the impression the tech-based car needed assistance.

But the truck never turned toward the Waymo. It continued advancing toward their Corolla.

"He came from the side. I thought he was turning right," Joanne said.

"He started in reverse and all the lights came on. That's when we were like, hey something's really wrong."

The couple attempted to swerve from the tow truck's path, but a black Honda Civic was feet behind their car.

Eventually, the Waymo pulled forward, allowing the Civic and Corolla to barely squeeze out of the lane and away from the truck.

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"The first instinct was to make sure that we could get away," Joanne told the publication.

"It's definitely really scary."

After very nearly escaping the jaws of the tow truck, Joanne said the operator chased the couple for several blocks.

They had no idea why the operator was attempting to grab their vehicle.

What to do if your car is towed

Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.

If your vehicle is towed after parking in a "No Parking" zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.

Steps to take when your car is towed:

Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted "No Parking" sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.

If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:

Be prompt - many states have a small window of time where it's acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.
Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.
Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.

Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm

"I definitely paid off my car," Joanne said.

"There's no payments or anything. I paid my registration."

Onlookers snapped videos of the jarring moment from the city streets.

Several people in the background are heard shouting at the truck driver as it lunged toward the small sedan.

The video ends with the tow truck accelerating after the Corolla.

Joanne said she reported the issue to police - she said they seemed skeptical of their story at first.

Howver, the pedestrian video went viral.

The San Francisco Police Department said it is now investigating the video, according to The San Francisco Standard.

"No injuries were reported, and no arrest has been made at this time," the department said in a statement.

"This incident is an open and active investigation."

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