Suffolk County police said the department is searching for a man who allegedly tried to lure a teenage girl into his car near West Babylon High School Thursday afternoon.

School and police officials said the incident happened at the intersection of Arnold Avenue and Elmwood Road which is less than half a mile from the school building.

District officials said the driver asked the student to get into the car before he got out and attempted to get the teen inside. The girl broke free, ran down the block and began knocking on neighbors' doors.

She eventually got to Kara Duffy's home. Duffy's daughter is the victim's best friend.

"I was in the office and they were just screaming and crying," Duffy said.

Duffy described details of the shocking incident.

"He was saying get in the car, get in the car," Duffy revealed. "She said no. She cut down a different block trying to get away from him. He then followed her. He turned right in front of her to cut her off. He was trying to grab her jacket."

In a message to the community, West Babylon Deputy Superintendent of Schools Shawn Hanley described the suspect as a white man in his 20s with a beard and mustache, brown hair and wearing a black Nike sweatsuit.

School officials said the car was a silver or white 4-door sedan without a license plate.

"Parents and guardians are once again encouraged to review steps their children should take when confronted by strangers and the need to be alert for any suspicious individuals," Hanley wrote.

Nicole Barany works as a crossing guard outside of the high school and said she's always watching out for the students.

"She was very smart running and knocking on the door," she said.

Duffy said she and other parents in the neighborhood are still on high alert and are making alternative plans to get their kids to and from school as the search continues.

"She's not going to be walking around here anymore," she said.

The investigation is ongoing.