The getaway chase through Bradenton, which started at about 15th Street West and Manatee Avenue West, headed eastbound on Manatee, arrived at downtown and took a dangerous turn, Lewis said.
Where Manatee Avenue West eastbound swngs right on the side of the Bradenton Financial Center, the Buick LeSabre went straight, heading into oncoming traffic on westbound Manatee Avenue West.
For several blocks, the racing car went into traffic and apparently without incident.
Then the car turned left onto Ninth Street West and onto the Green Bridge, Lewis said.
Into downtown Palmetto, the Buick LeSabre sideswiped a Nissan Maxima being driven by Mary Maceachern, 43, of Palmetto.
The getaway car came right at the Maxima in the right lanes of Eighth Avenue West. The sideswipe occured in the area of 14th or 15th streets west -- not far from where the LeSabre ran off the road.
"I was so scared, I didn't know what to do. It all happened so very fast, and my son's friend yelled to me, 'Watch out!' " Maceachern said.
The collision damaged the Maxima's left sideview mirror.
Thinking she needed information for an insurance report, Maceachern turned around and drove after the Buick LeSabre. She said the LeSabre was slowing down, and she thought it was to talk to her.
"I saw the car come to a complete stop. Then they just got out of the car and ran," she said.
She then thought the LeSabre might have been stolen.
She said she saw three people exit the LeSabre wearing white T-shirts and bluejeans.
At 12:30 p.m., Eighth Avenue West was blocked from 17th to 19th streets west during the search for a fourth suspect. A Manatee County Sheriff's Office helicopter and K-9 dogs were assisting with the search.
At 1:30 p.m., the search area had shifted slight north to the neighborhood south of U.S. 41 Business.
Lewis said the FBI has joined the investigation of the bank robbery.
For updates, check back with Bradenton.com.
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