SAN DIEGO -- A 9-year-old girl managed to escape from a kidnapper who accosted her Monday as she was walking to school in Valencia Park and forced her into a nearby minivan, authorities reported.

The abductor drove up alongside the child in the 100 block of Latimer Street about 8:45 a.m., pulled over, got out, grabbed her and told her to get into the vehicle, according to San Diego police.

"She was inside the van for a brief time, but she was able to get free and run away," SDPD spokeswoman Monica Munoz said. "The victim ran to a nearby school and asked for help. In addition, a couple of neighbors nearby saw the incident and called police."

The youngster, who suffered no serious injuries during her ordeal, described the kidnapper as a Latino between 25 and 40 years old, wearing blue or black pants and a lime-green shirt.

He was driving a white 1990s-model Plymouth Voyager or similar minivan.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the San Diego Police Department at 619-527-3500 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.