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91-Year-Old Woman Who Disappeared In Redford Found Safe 130 Miles Away

vivian heap
Vivian Heap (police handout)

REDFORD TWP. (WWJ) - Police say a 91-year-old woman who disappeared after she was seen driving in Redford Township has been found safe and sound over 100 miles away.

Authorities said Vivian Heap was found safe in Pinconning, Mich. around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

Police had asked the public for help in locating Heap after she was last seen around noon Wednesday, driving her silver 2012 Chevy Malibu on 7 Mile Road toward Wayne Road.

Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said Heap apparently got turned around somewhere and ended up heading north until she showed up at a local gas station in Pinconning.

"A good Samaritan that was also refueling their vehicle happened to notice that she was having a little bit of trouble getting her gas cap open and she seemed to be a little bit disoriented," Shaw told WWJ's Beth Fisher. "When she went over to talk to her, she discovered that she was lost and she was looking for 7 Mile Road."

Pinconning also has a 7 Mile Road, so the good Samaritan had Heap follow behind her vehicle.

"When she followed her over there, the good Samaritan could tell right away that the 91-year-old woman was confused of where she was, so she took her back to her house," said Shaw.

After talking for a little while, the good Samaritan realized Heap was actually from Redford Township and now very far away from home.

"She contacted the Michigan State Police and troopers went over there. So, the Good Samaritan made her some breakfast and we were able to get her settled in and now we're waiting for her family to pick her up," said Shaw, who credited the Samaritan with possibly saving Heap from an unfortunate situation.

"Currently, Vivian's in good spirits. We're just happy that, a lot of times these stories don't end so well, so we're grateful to the lady up there in the Tri-City area that was able to take time out of her day and actually not go into work this morning to make sure that Vivian made it back to her family."

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.

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