Car Jacking Victim Says "Having a Bad Day" Has New Meaning

Lyon says she now knows that first hand after a quick run to the ATM turned into the lead story on the 11 o'clock news.

"This lady approached us and told us that she had run out of gas, and that she needed some money," says Lyon.

That woman was 25-year-old Rachel Etheridge. When Lyon said she had no money, Etheridge said she had a gun and needed her car keys. At first Lyon said she didn't believe her.

"Her eyes weren't glazed over or anything like that, and you can normally tell if somebody is on something," says Lyon, describing Etheridge's appearance. "She pointed the gun at me at that moment, and that's when I realized things were out of my hands. I just told God, you're on. I gave her my car key," says Lyon.

That was the last time Lyon saw Etheridge and her car, which later wound up down an embankment on the side of 95 South and Martin Luther King Blvd.

Lyon later found out the gun Etheridge pulled on her wasn't real, but says there was no way for her or police to know that. Ultimately, the incident later resulted in Etheridge's death.

Detectives said because Etheridge was driving recklessly, they used the pit maneuver to stop the car. Investigators said Etheridge would not cooperate and come out of the car. Police say once they saw her reach for something under the seat, they fired into the car. Etheridge was taken to a local hospital where she later died.

"I was really kind of sick at my stomach, I mean you hate for anyone to lose their life over anything, but there are consequences to your actions," says Lyon.

Rachel Etheridge has an extensive criminal past involving drug use, shoplifting, grand theft auto, and attempting to elude police.

Rachel Etheridge's father, Doug Braungardt also spoke with First Coast News. He says his daughter was not a villian, but instead a woman with a long troubled past.

He says Etheridge was bipolar and off her medication. He also says she had an addiction to cocaine and was in and out of jail because of it. Braungardt says his daughter was going through a divorce.