» Sign Up For Breaking News Alerts» Like Us On Facebook» Follow Us On Twitter

The attack occurred at about 7:40 p.m. in the 4700 block of 68th Street. The 20-year-old woman told police she was unloading some items out of her maroon minivan, which she had just parked in front of her home.

"As she leaned in, she felt someone grab her buttocks," said San Diego police Lt. David Rohowits.

Officers said a 31-year-old man pushed her back inside the car and started sexually assaulting her.

The woman screamed so loud it got the attention of her male roommate. That apparently scared the attacker, who jumped in a pickup truck and drove away.

"After he pulled away, the Mustang pulled up and asked if we got his license number," said witness Frank Pease. "I said, 'No' and the guy said, 'I'm going to get him' and he sped off after him."

There was a brief chase through a few streets in Rolando and witnesses said it was messy.

"As the truck was trying to get away, it made a five-point u-turn, hitting cars on both sides of the street," said Pease. "One of its tires was blown off and he was trying to drive away like that."

The man's truck hit at least three cars and made it fairly easy for police to locate it. Officers followed fresh tire marks until they found a blue pickup truck at the end of the 6000 block of Vigo Drive in La Mesa, where they arrested the man.

Police said the young victim is traumatized by what happened.

"An incident like this is very scary thing for a woman of any age," said Rohowits. "She did the right thing. She did resist."

The name of the 41-year-old suspect was not immediately released. He was in custody Wednesday on suspicion of attempted rape. The man is expected to be charged with hit-and-run and sexual assault.