By Micheal Chukwuebuka, Reporting
NORTHERN California police pursued a Volkswagen that sped away during a traffic incident Wednesday and were surprised to find a 9-year-old boy behind the wheel.
Stonix News reports that the incident happened in Oroville, a city of around 20,000 in a valley near the Sierra Nevada mountains around 60 miles north of Sacramento.
California Highway Patrol said in a statement obtained by our source, NBC News, that the incident began around 9:20 a.m. when the sedan was found stopped oddly in the middle of the intersection.
“When instructed 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,” the highway patrol said.
After the vehicle stopped, it reversed and ran into the patrol car, but there was only minor damage.
Once it was stopped, the driver was found to be a 9-year-old child who took the car in an attempt to drive himself to school, the agency said.
“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,” the patrol said.
CHP Officer Terry Dunn, who pulled the child over, told our source that his reaction was one of shock.
“Several other officers showed up, as well, and it was kind of like one of those no-one-really-believed-it kind of things,” Dunn said.
Dunn also said that after the vehicle was stopped, he did notice a little head bopping inside the car:
“As I was approaching I could see a kid, which turned out to be a 9-year-old child, sticking his head out and saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m trying to get to school.”
Dunn said it was dangerous and reminded parents to keep car keys secure and to talk to their children to prevent anything like Wednesday’s incident from happening again.
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