11-Year-Old Lucky To Be Alive After Taking Car On Out-Of-Control Joy Ride
WESTMORELAND COUNTY (KDKA) – A local boy is facing the consequences after he took the family car out for an early-morning joy ride.
Investigators say this accident couldn't have happened at a better time. All things considered, the driver of the vehicle was out of control – he also happened to be 11 years old.
"It's very difficult to believe most 11 year olds are gonna be up at 5:30 in the morning, let alone the family car for a ride," said State Police Tpr. Steve Limani.
But State Police say an 11-year-old who lives just up the road from where the crash happened was really moving when he lost control. The boy sat on a box to see over the dash.
"He's sitting on a box," Limani said, "he's 11 years old and operating a motor vehicle. It's a recipe for disaster."
Crash investigators say the boy careened off the right side of the road, smack dab into a telephone pole. Despite his alternative seating arrangement, he was belted in.
"Most crashes like this cause ejection," said Limani. "Most cases like this, you go through the windshield."
And in this case, ejected into what was a rain swollen road-side creek.
"An ejection into a creek after being involved in a violent crash," said Limani. "It would have been very hard to survive something like that."
The boy suffered some minor injuries. His name isn't being released because he is a juvenile. At 5:30 a.m., few drivers are on the road and investigators say that's a blessing.
"We're very fortunate no one else was involved," said Limani.
The child will face motor vehicle violations and will likely have his license suspended when he eventually gets his driver's license in a few years.
Now why did an 11-year-old take a car out for a joy ride? Investigators are still trying to figure that out.
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