CRIME
California Boy, 9, On A ‘Mission’ To Drive Himself To School, Leads Police On Brief Car Chase
California Highway Patrol
A 9-year-old boy who tried to drive to school on his own led police on a brief car chase in a scene straight out of a movie, the California Highway Patrol said Wednesday.
An officer from CHP’s Oroville office saw a gray Volkswagen sedan stopped oddly in the middle of the intersection of Grand Avenue and 4th Street at around 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, and instructed it to move.
The vehicle unexpectedly sped off, leading to a short and erratic chase that ended in a dirt parking lot just east of Plumas Avenue Elementary School, CHP said in a statement. After stopping, the Volkswagen abruptly shifted into reverse and rammed the officer’s patrol car.
Although the move could have led to a grave outcome, both vehicles suffered only minor damages, the agency said.
The officer approached the driver, who turned out to be a wide-eyed 9-year-old child.
The boy had taken his mother’s car on a mission to drive himself to school.
We are relieved to report that no one was injured in this incident. The child was safely sent to school after the necessary authorities were alerted and the situation was documented, CHP said.
The fact that this crash involved a child driver only heightens the need for awareness around vehicle security and the importance of imparting road safety knowledge to our younger generation, CHP said. Let’s use this unusual event as a catalyst for conversations about safety, responsibility, and the importance of adhering to our community’s driving laws.
TMX contributed to this article.
