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A woman is safe after narrowly avoiding an alleged kidnapping when she alerted a bystander at a Utah gas station that she was in trouble.

The Iron County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox 13 Utah that Epigmenio Bustillos Marquez, 53, was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly attempted to kidnap a woman, only to have his attempt stopped by the victim who slipped a note to a witness at a southern Utah gas station.

Just before 1:30 p.m. on March 8, deputies were dispatched to the Cedar Band Travel Plaza, about seven miles southwest of Cedar City, for reports of a kidnapping. 

A 53-year-old man accused of kidnapping a woman was apprehended near Cedar City over the weekend after the victim passed a note to a witness saying she was in trouble and needed help. (FOX News)

Marquez allegedly threatened the victim, telling her that she would die if she tried to leave the vehicle due to the speed at which they were traveling, when she told Marquez she wanted to get out of the vehicle.

Marquez then took her phone so she couldn’t call anyone and at one point struck the victim in the mouth.

According to jail records, Marquez was booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on one first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault. He also faces misdemeanor charges of assault, providing false info, interruption of a communication device, prohibited use of an ID, and operating a vehicle without a license or permit.

Marquez has also been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Iron County Sheriff’s Office for comment.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com