Pregnant robber carjacks TV news van with pregnant reporter inside

‘It is frightening when you become the news story as a journalist’

Iyani Hughes in her anchor reel ((Iyani Hughes YouTube))

A pregnant TV reporter’s news van was carjacked by another pregnant woman - while she was still inside.

Iyani Hughes, from Atlanta, who works as a reporter for CBS 46, was in the back of the van editing a news piece, when it was carjacked.

The suspect, 38-year-old Seniqua Lunsford, allegedly crashed her own car into a nearby apartment complex moments before.

She then got out of the car and quickly broke into Ms Hughes’ Van, before the journalist could lock the doors and edit the report she had just filmed.

Officers started their pursuit of Ms Lunsford after Ms Hughes’ news anchor, Karen Greer, alerted their attention to the incident, when they arrived at the scene of Ms Lunsford’s previous crash.

In a video posted onto CBS46’s Facebook page, Ms Greer said that “it is frightening when you become the news story as a journalist.”

She added: “I could hear in my ear because they realised in master control that something was going on so they were rolling on it and I could hear (Hughes) scream and I could hear Jeff, our photographer, yelling somebody just drove off in our car.”

Ms Lunsford is alleged to have fled in the van for about a mile and refused to stop despite Ms Hughes’ screaming.

Atlanta Police spokesman Steve Avery, told reporters that when Ms Lunsford refused to stop, Ms Hughes “got into her seat and put her seat belt on.”

Ms Lunsford crashed the van and attempted to flee on foot, but was immediately caught by police, according to Fox News.

She injured her arm, but Ms Hughes was unhurt in the incident, despite being taken to a nearby hospital to be examined.

The police confirmed to the Associated Press that Ms Lunsofrd will be charged with kidnapping.