DURHAM, N. C., Dec. 4 - Police in Durham, N. C., were searching for three people who kidnapped a Bank of America branch manager and his 13-year-old daughter Thursday, officials said.

WRAL-TV reported that the branch manager's Mercedes was bumped from behind when he was taking his daughter to school at around 7:30 a. m., police said. When he got out of his car, three people confronted him at gunpoint, hit him on the head and forced him back into his car, the Raleigh, N. C., station reported.

Police said the gunmen put the man's daughter in the trunk of their car. The teen reportedly pulled the trunk release lever, escaped and flagged down a Durham County sheriff's deputy.

The kidnappers drove behind the bank branch the man manages. He emerged from the bank unharmed after police arrived.

Police said the suspects fled in a silver sport utility vehicle. The station reported that the motive for the kidnapping was unclear. (UPI)