After eluding a traffic stop, an 11-year-old driver of a minivan north of Sacramento lost control and crashed in a downpour, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The incident started Saturday at approximately 10:42 a.m. in Butte County, roughly 70 miles north of Sacramento, just north of Oroville, according to the CHP. The CHP Oroville office reported on social media that it had received several reports of a careless driver on southbound State Route 99, right north of State Route 149. Callers informed the CHP that the silver minivan was weaving in all lanes and moving at different speeds.
When officers tried to stop the car on southbound SR-149, the driver rushed off in the direction of southern SR-70. According to the CHP, officers gave up pursuing the car due to the inclement weather.
According to the CHP, the driver of the vehicle was an 11-year-old juvenile, as reported by the minor’s guardian, when police in Chico, which is roughly 27 miles northeast of Oroville, called them at 11:40 a.m. The CHP got more calls concerning the minor traveling south on SR-149 toward SR-70 into Oroville roughly seven minutes later.
According to the CHP, officers were waiting at the Garden Drive exit off SR-70, and when the car pulled off, they attempted to speak with the youngster on the offramp. Officers followed the car at around 50 mph without lights or sirens “to avoid alarming the minor and provoking a high-speed flight,” the CHP stated in the social media post, after the minor briefly halted but then drove off again.
“Additionally, officers were not actively pursuing the minor in the interest of their and the public’s safety and were only following to monitor the minor’s whereabouts as there was no possible way at the time to communicate with the minor,” according to the CHP.
The car finally drove through a badly flooded portion of the road at roughly 60 miles per hour and overturned after leaving SR-70 at the next exit. The kid was wearing a seatbelt and was not visibly hurt when officers removed the minivan’s front windshield to save him, according to the CHP. As a precaution, medical personnel sent the minor to a nearby hospital.
There were no additional reports of damage or injuries. The incident’s circumstances were being looked into by the CHP Oroville Area Office. It didn’t reveal any further information right away.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.