11-Year-Old Reportedly Leads Authorities on Vehicle Pursuit in Butte County
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BUTTE COUNTY, CA
California Highway Patrol officers recently engaged a pursuit with a reckless driver, only to find that the driver was an 11-year-old minor.
According to a press release by the California Highway Patrol, their office received reports on Saturday, Dec. 14, of a reckless driver on southbound State Route 99 near State Route 149. Witnesses described a silver minivan weaving across lanes at varying speeds.
Officers located the vehicle on State Route 149 and attempted a stop, but the driver accelerated and failed to yield, continuing onto State Route 70. Due to poor weather, officers ended the pursuit after about 30 seconds to ensure public safety.
At 11:40 a.m., police were informed the driver was only 11 years old. At 11:47 a.m., more calls came in reporting the minor back on the road, heading southbound on State Route 149.
Officers positioned near Garden Drive and State Route 70 attempted to stop the vehicle when it exited but the minor drove off again. Officers monitored the vehicle at about 50 miles per hour without activating lights or sirens. The vehicle later entered a flooded section of Nelson Avenue at 60 miles per hour, lost control, and overturned.
Officers removed the minor through the windshield. The child had been wearing a seatbelt and had no visible injuries, but was taken to a hospital as a precaution, authorities said.
