not saying this is or isn't what happened but I think it is a valid idea. IMO a lot of runners or cyclists get closer than I would to someone in a vehicle asking for directions. Eg., a couple moths ago I was running on a semi-rural street when a couple in an SUV slowed down and rolled down their window. They asked if I'd seen their runaway dog. (And actually I had and I doubt there was anything sinister about them.) but I stayed where I was, which was across the road from the vehicle, to answer the questions. I know that some people will go right up to the car window. There was a poster on WS, sorry I can't remember the name, who was participating in a self-defense exercise where she knew that the instructor was gonna approach her in a car and try to pull her in...and she still got pulled in thru the window in hardly any time. He pulled up to ask for directions, she leaned downbythe window to answer, and just that quick it happened.
