A driver who told authorities a man jumped into his car and pointed a gun at him was able to get help quickly from a nearby deputy.

Deputies responded to the scene of the attempted carjacking on Needmore Road early Tuesday morning.

The driver told the deputy that he slowed to avoid hitting a man who was crossing the street. The man in the road, Derrick Fitzpatrick, 41, seized the moment and jumped into the back seat of the car while putting a gun to driver's head, deputies said.

According to deputies, a passenger in the car turned around and began punching the attacker and the gun went off during the struggle. The passenger then knocked the gun out of the car window.

As the struggle continued, the driver spotted a deputy's cruiser on Dixie Drive and pulled up next to it, where Fitzpatrick was arrested.

He is expected to face abduction and felonious assault charges.