A 25-year-old nursing student in Birmingham managed a dramatic escape after being forced into the trunk of her own car during an armed carjacking, using the faint light from her insulin pump to locate the vehicle’s interior trunk release.
The woman, identified as Brittany Diggs, said the terrifying incident unfolded after she returned to her apartment complex and was approached by a man with a gun. According to reports and interviews, the suspect forced Diggs back into her car and ordered her to drive while he attempted to carry out additional crimes.
During the ordeal, the suspect allegedly directed Diggs to ATMs in an attempt to withdraw money and kept her under threat as he drove around the city.
At one point, the man ordered Diggs out of the driver’s seat and forced her into the trunk of the vehicle before continuing to drive.
Inside the trunk, Diggs found herself in complete darkness with no phone or flashlight. But she remembered that many modern vehicles include an emergency trunk-release latch designed to allow someone trapped inside to escape.
The challenge was locating it in the dark.
Diggs, who lives with Type 1 Diabetes, realized she had one possible source of light: her insulin pump, a small medical device that delivers insulin throughout the day and includes a faintly lit screen.
Using the device’s tiny light, she began scanning the inside of the trunk until she finally spotted the emergency release handle.
Rather than immediately opening it, Diggs waited for the right moment.
When the car slowed near a gas station, she pulled the release latch, pushed the trunk open and jumped out before running toward safety. Surveillance cameras at the location later captured parts of the escape.
Diggs quickly alerted authorities, and police in Birmingham launched a search for the suspect following the incident.
She survived the ordeal with only minor injuries.
The story gained widespread attention after Diggs later spoke publicly about the experience, describing how the small light from her medical device helped guide her to the trunk’s emergency release.
Her escape also highlighted a safety feature required in vehicles sold in the United States since 2002 — interior trunk-release mechanisms designed to prevent people from becoming trapped inside.
By sharing her story, Diggs said she hopes to encourage others to remain aware of their surroundings and familiarize themselves with safety features in their vehicles.
The moment, she explained in later interviews, came down to staying calm and thinking through the limited options available — even in complete darkness.
