Sep 22, 2008 7:02 pm US/Eastern
Police: 11-Year-Old Driver Created Danger On Roads
Police say an 11-year-old boy stole a car from his foster home in North Strabane Sunday night
When a state trooper tried to stop the juvenile, police say the boy sped off at speeds exceeding 80 mph
The unidentified juvenile is facing a list of charges including aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding police
NORTH STRABANE (KDKA) ―
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A police chase involving an 11-year-old driver ended when the boy crashed a stolen station wagon into a utility pole along Route 519 in Washington County
KDKA
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The unidentified juvenile is in custody facing a long list of charges
KDKA
State police say an 11-year-old boy who stole a car and led troopers on a high-speed chase through Washington County last night could have caused a disaster on a local highway; but fortunately, no other drivers were injured.
According to authorities, a woman called police around 7pm when she realized that her 11-year-old foster child had stolen a station wagon the driveway of her home on Meadowbrook Drive in North Strabane Township.
About two hours later, a state police trooper spotted the vehicle on Route 917 heading towards Interstate 70.
When the trooper tried to stop the juvenile, police say the boy sped off – swerving through traffic on I-70 at speeds exceeding 80 miles-per-hour.
At one point during the chase, police say the boy almost struck another vehicle.
Authorities say the 11-year-old driver turned around in the median and headed eastbound on I-70. He got off the highway at the Eighty Four exit and struck a state police cruiser.
"You have an 11-year-old who is obviously not experienced with driving a vehicle – and at such high speeds," Trooper Robin Mungo told KDKA. "He is definitely a danger – not only to himself, but to any- and everyone around him, including those troopers."
With no other traffic on Route 519, the trooper performed a so-called 'pit maneuver' to stop the unlicensed driver in Somerset Township. The boy lost control of the vehicle and hit a utility pole – suffering a minor head injury.
He's now in custody facing charges including aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding police and 27 summary traffic violations.
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