Lapeer Police stop 6-year-old driver heading for Chinese food

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Detroit News

Police in Lapeer responded to an unusual phone call Saturday morning from drivers on M-24 who reported a vehicle driving erratically.

"They told police when they called that it looked like a 6-year-old was driving the car," said Sgt. Andy Engster of the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department. "And they were exactly right."

By the time police arrived to pull over the six-year-old boy, two drivers of other vehicles had already boxed him into a turnaround, said Engster. One reached into the window and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

The boy had taken the keys off the counter at home and told the responding officer that he had never driven before and nobody had taught him how. . .


Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130413/METRO/304130370/Lapeer-Police-stop-6-year-old-driver-heading-Chinese-food?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

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Have to continue on to the next priceless paragraph:

When police asked the boy why he took the car, he told them he was going to get Chinese food. He had hit a "no left turn" sign on Park and Pine streets near his home and, seeing the damage to the car, decided he needed to head to the dealer to get it repaired.

"He said he'd never even sat on his dad's lap to steer the car or anything," said Engster.

The incident occurred at 7:30 a.m. just south of the I-69 entrance ramp. Police called the boy's father who came to pick him up.

"He said he was asleep and he didn't even know (his son) was gone," said Engster.

The incident is under investigation and no one was injured.

I mean, what's the matter with this kid? Chinese delivery is easier, and everybody knows dealers charge too much - he should have driven to the local bump shop. (Spent lots of time all my life in Lapeer - this is a first, though.)

[riderinthestorm]

1. Whoa, kids do the darndest things but this is pretty ka-razy!

As a parent I'm cringing. Do you smack the kid because you're so terrified they did such a thing, or hug them because you're so relieved they're safe without anyone else getting injured?!






(and no, I wouldn't literally "smack" my child - speaking figuratively here...)

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. Yell at them, then hug them, then change locks on the door.

My oldest, when he was 2, let himself out of the living room at dusk, and was standing on a traffic divider, looking at
"all the pretty lights".
I didn't stop shaking for a week.

[Monk06]

2. If you pick up your order you get free egg rolls. Who could pass that up?

[Tab]

3. How big was this kid?

How the hell did he reach the pedals AND manage to see over the dash?

[starroute]

8. He probably drove standing up

There was a similar story some 5-10 years ago, and that was how that kid managed it.

[Maynar]

30. I can't see how that would be possible

since one has to depress the brake pedal before the shift lever will move in automatic transmission cars.

The only way I could see it is, if the car had a manual transmission and was parked in gear. In that case, turning the key will start the car moving as soon as it turns over.

Okay, answered my own question.

[Katashi_itto]

4. How many rounds did the police use?

[leveymg]

5. Started doing this when I was 9. Didn't get caught for 3 years.

Small town in Connecticut. Not many cops. No cell phones then. Parents were sound sleepers and away a lot.

By the time I took my operator's test, I had seven years behind the wheel, including driving a local gas station's tow truck when I was 15 (the owner of the shop thought I was 16, I looked a lot older.) Driving is like riding a bicycle or surfing - the earlier you start, the better you stay for life.

[treestar]

7. OMG!

[leveymg]

9. Did you know that there are a lot of kids who start learning how to fly at that age?

Put a cushion on the right-hand seat, and let the kid fly. Given the chance, they just do it, and are more skilled and safer for the rest of their lives.

I recall there was 14 or 15 year old who flew from Germany and landed a Cessna in Red Square a decade or two ago. He did it because he thought it would be fun. Now, there's the spirit!

[treestar]

10. Neil Armstrong learned to fly before he could drive

I read that he got his pilot's license and then rode his bike home. That created this picture in my mind that has sort of stuck. Kid riding bike away from air field. I think he was 16, if I remember rightly.

[leveymg]

11. I think bureaucratic categories and social limits have interfered with human development.

It's the 21st Century, man. We should have flying cars by now!

[kentauros]

14. Do you truly want your current "fellow"

(and far too often, totally unaware of their surroundings) "drivers" flying their vehicles, too?

I'd be happier with an automated freeway (which is already in progress!) "Antelope Freeway, 1 mi."

[Nevernose]

23. They had an interview on NPR w/ him last month

I think it was either the 20 or 25th anniversary. IIRC, he just thought stealing the plane would be fun. He didn't mean to go to Russia, nor was he 100% certain on the whole "landing" thing.

[jmowreader]

24. Ah, one Matthias Rust...

Not only did he land in Red Square, he did it on Soviet Air Defense Day. LOTS of air defense commanders were demoted to private over that one.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

6. They forgot the second half of the story.

He was hungry again 45 minutes later and drove for tacos.

[Doctor Who]

19. LOL.

"rimshot"

[underpants]

27. +

I was going to say that he was just going back for more

Good one

[LiberalEsto]

12. The food order was for...

Shrimp on Wheels

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Well... seemed logical to the kid. My first "driving" was age 6 on a tractor someone had

left the key in (that was common in rural midwest) I got about 50 yards before my joy ride came to an end in a shallow ditch.
Sure was fun while it lasted!

[Coyotl]

20. My legs were to short to drive one of these until I was eight.

At eight, I got to harrow the corn field. I had to beg my Dad first. I could handle our team of horses years earlier.

[zentrum]

16. Sounds like an amazing kid actually

Lots of initiative. Tries to solve problems. Self reliant. Confident. Even tried to be very responsible.

Will probably be an artist, inventor, or intrepeneur someday. Something outside the envelope.

[Yo_Mama]

25. If his parents can keep him alive long enough

But that was my basic reaction to the article.

The other drivers who headed him off and boxed him in showed a lot of moxie too.

[SheilaT]

17. Among the reasons I drive a stick shift.

A little kid can't drive it by himself.

Heck, these days a remarkable number of people never learned to drive a manual transmission. I figure I'm rather safe from a car-jacking.

[House of Roberts]

26. I prefer a manual also.

I think being aware of what gear you're in makes you a more alert driver. I have no radio in my car, and the cell phone stays in my pocket under the seat belt.

[SheilaT]

31. I agree with you about being aware of the gear making you a more alert driver.

Even though I've long believed that, I generally don't go around saying so because it sounds like I'm saying those who drive automatics aren't good drivers. But in an automatic all you do is aim the car and press on the accelerator or the brake. The vast majority of people driving an automatic never downshift regardless of road conditions. There really is a reason all cars have several gears.

My oldest son could not learn to drive on a stick. It was simply too overwhelming for him. He also has Asperger's which may have been the reason why. Anyway, we finally acquired a car with an automatic transmission for him. He learned to drive, but he quite frankly wasn't a very good driver, and I always feared I'd get the phone call that every parent dreads. Anyway, a couple of months later he asked me if he could try driving my car again, and he nailed the whole shifting thing as soon as he got behind the wheel. Amazing. A couple of years after that he acquired a car with a stick shift and he's a much, much better driver now. His attention is focussed on his driving in a way it had not been, and now he's a perfectly adequate driver. Not a great one, but he's no longer a bad driver.

[left is right]

18. I am envious

I can’t even get my grandkids to taste Chinese food and this kid is willing to risk life and limb to go pick it up. Did he remember to take his father’s credit card?

[davidpdx]

22. If he thought taking the car all the way through

I'd bet he had to take either cash or a credit card to pay for the Chinese food. Unless he cracked open his piggy bank and went for broke. He was thinking too small (pun intended), he should have gone to Vegas.

[davidpdx]

21. And he said...

On the way back I was going to stop at 7-11 for some beer to wash down that Chinese food.

[notadmblnd]

28. Lapeer is still as rural as it was when you spent time there

There is no Chinese delivery. There might be a Jimmy Johns that delivers or a pizza place, but definately no Chinese delivery.

[randome]

29. Relax, everyone. Kid was probably stoned and going out for munchies!

[rrneck]

32. Kids are getting smarter.

When I tried that at six I wound up in a ditch.

[AsahinaKimi]

33. Hey Lady!