Seven-Year-Old Driver Leads Police on Chase
 

Seven-Year-Old Driver Leads Police on Chase
AOL News link (pics/video)
AP

The second-grader was charged with driving without a license, eluding police, and leaving the scene of an accident.

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 11) - Eager to get his driver's license, a 7-year-old boy took his parent's pickup truck on a joyride through town with police in pursuit, narrowly avoiding several collisions.

"It could have been very serious," Officer Josh Laverette told WSMV-TV as he reviewed a videotape of the Monday evening chase filmed by one of the pursuing cruisers.

Officers thought they were after a drunk driver. "He was weaving and all over the road. He couldn't stay in his lane," Laverette said.

But when they grew closer, they found a barely 4-foot-tall, second-grader behind the wheel.

"He was so short he had to sit up close to the steering wheel," Laverette said. "Whenever he would brake, he would pick himself up with his left foot and stomp on the brake with his right."

For seven miles, police followed the pickup as it swerved through traffic and busy intersections, nearly hitting one car stopped at a stop light and barely missing at least five oncoming cars.

Still, Deputy Chief Mike Rogers said, "He never got above the speed limit. It was slow."

The chase never reached 55 mph, he said.

Witness Susan Daniel was amazed by the sight. "There were like probably five city cars and three county cars and a state trooper" all chasing the truck, she said.

"It blew my mind because we actually watched him put on his turn signal and turn, and we could see when he went past that he had seat belts on," Daniel said. "Then to come find out it was a child, I was really shocked."

The chase ended when the boy pulled up to his house and parked the truck.

"He said the reason he took the vehicle was because he wanted to get his license," Laverette said.

Nine years too young for a license, the boy was charged with driving without a license, eluding police and leaving the scene of an accident. He faces a hearing later this week in juvenile court.

The boy's name was not released by authorities because of his age. No charges have been filed against his parents.


01/11/06 13:22 EST