11-year-old flips minivan after recklessly driving in Northern California

On Saturday at approximately 10:42 a.m., multiple people reported a minivan weaving in and out of lanes on southbound state Route 99 in Butte County, the California Highway Patrol said in a Facebook post.



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At 11:40 a.m., CHP learned that the minivan driver was an 11-year-old after the child’s guardian reported them to the Chico Police Department.

Several more calls came in around 11:47 a.m., saying the 11-year-old was driving again, CHP said. Officers tried to make contact with the child by waiting for them at the Garden Drive off-ramp on state Route 70 outside Oroville, CHP said, but the 11-year-old sped away after stopping momentarily.

CHP then followed the 11-year-old at approximately 50 mph but didn’t turn on their lights or sirens to avoid scaring the driver and potentially provoking a high-speed chase, the Facebook post said. Officers said they weren’t able to communicate with the child and only followed the car to “monitor the minor’s whereabouts.”



https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/11-year-old-flips-minivan-recklessly-driving-19986886.php


From there, officers followed the vehicle while traveling about 50 mph without lights or sirens activated to avoid startling the illegal motorist into speeding away. CHP described the officers as following rather than pursuing the driver, keeping watch “as there was no possible way at the time to communicate with the minor.”

The vehicle exited Nelson Avenue where it continued for several miles before driving through a flooded section of the road going 60 mph. The minivan hydroplaned, causing the minivan to lose control and roll over onto westbound shoulder.

Officers removed the windshield and rescued the child, who was wearing a seatbelt. The 11-year-old appeared unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. CHP officials did identify the juvenile and did not specify what charges the juvenile would face.

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article297151464.html#storylink=cpy