Alabama police search for missing woman who said she saw child walking along highway

Police are searching for a 25-year-old woman after she disappeared when she stopped to look for a child she saw walking along an Alabama interstate highway.

Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell called 911 about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday in Hoover, Alabama, and reported seeing a toddler walking along the side of the interstate, the Hoover (Ala.) Police Department said in a press release. After calling 911, Russell stopped to check on the toddler and also called a family member to tell them about the situation.

“The family member lost contact with her, but the line remained open,” police said. “Officers who were already en route to the location of the initial 911 call located the female’s vehicle and some of her belongings nearby, but were unable to find her or a child in the area.”

Police said they had not gotten any other calls about a missing child. Russell was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike brand shoes. She is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 150-160 pounds, police said.

Missing Alabama woman:Police search for woman who vanished after reporting child on side of Alabama interstate

Russell was traveling home from work in Birmingham, Alabama, and is believed to have picked up food on her way back before heading toward Hoover on I-459. She stopped to look for the child “near mile marker 11 between the Galleria flyover and Exit 10 for Highway 150,” police said.

“A single witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle with a light complected male standing outside of [Russell’s] vehicle. We have no further information about that individual or vehicle at this time,” police said.