Frightened Seeing me?

It was just getting dark. I got lost on my way to find an Indian grocery shop after shopping. I was driving through a lonely road for 15 minutes. Finally saw two persons walking beside the road. I just slowed down my car to ask for the directions. The two people were some 50 meters away from me. So I got out of the car to ask the directions. To my astonishment they were two girls (not sure what the ages are)and started to scream. I got shocked as to why they are so afraid of me. I shouted “I am lost. Tell me where should I go to find nearest gas station?”
Still frightened they screamed back to me “Call Police”. I said “I got no phone”. “Go ahead. Go away. Go away” they said.

I thought it is better to go away as soon as possible. Went ahead and found a gas station in 5-6 minutes. Went inside and asked the sales person “How can I go to I-95?” He started to explain me the route but suddenly looked at me in as if I am a robber. I guess something appeared on his computer. He said “Sorry I don’t have an idea”.

I went out and got in to my car. Just then a police car came and stopped near me. They asked me to stay in the car. Took 2-3 minutes and the police man asked me if I frightened two girls 10 minutes back. I admitted. By that time he knows I am from Sri Lanka and that the car is a rented car.

I wondered about the security system. He took my driving license, told me the directions to my destination very clearly and finally apologized for the inconvenience caused.

This happened in Wilmington area in MA.