Neb. Woman, 76, Fends Off Teen Girl

When Fritts arrived, she told police, she pulled up behind the home to drop off some recyclables. As she removed the articles, she heard someone behind her ask whether she wanted help. No, Fritts said.

That's when she got clobbered.

"She just slammed my head against that bin," Fritts said. "I was so shocked."

So shocked—and now angered—that she whipped around and put up her dukes.

"I think she was surprised that a little old, gray-haired lady with glasses would come around swinging," Fritts said.

Why'd you do that, she asked the girl, who replied that she wanted Fritts' car.

The teenager was taller, Fritts said, but couldn't weigh more than 100 pounds.

Soon the girl realized Fritts wasn't about to give up the car, so she ran.

Fritts drove home and a neighbor gave her a ride to a hospital for some treatment.

After Fritts' report to the police, the girl was found and picked up at a nearby restaurant.

A Lincoln police spokeswoman said the girl was looking for a way back home to Omaha after running away from a Lincoln treatment center.

Fritts acknowledged that her feisty reaction might not have very smart.

"If this never happens again it will be too soon," she said.

___

Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.