9-year-old who misses school bus drives mom's car to school, sparks police chase

OROVILLE, Calif. (KRCR) — A 9-year-old boy led officers on an erratic pursuit in an attempt to drive himself to school on Wednesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The incident occurred at around 9:20 a.m. when the CHP says an officer spotted a car oddly stopped in the middle of the intersection at Grand Avenue and Fourth Street. They say when the officer instructed the driver to move, the vehicle sped off and led the officer on a short and erratic chase.

The CHP says the chase came to an end in the dirt parking lot just east of Plumas Avenue Elementary School. However, they say the car abruptly reversed into the patrol vehicle, causing minor damages.

The officer eventually made contact with the driver: a wide-eyed little boy who had taken his mother's car while trying to drive himself to school. The CHP says the boy was safely sent to school after the necessary authorities were alerted and the situation was documented.

In their press release, the CHP said, "the fact that this crash involved a child driver only heightens the need for awareness around vehicle security and the importance of imparting road safety knowledge to our younger generation. This incident underscores the critical need for all drivers to be licensed, educated and aware of the risks of the road."

The boy's mother told KRCR her son took her car because he missed the school bus that morning.

She explained she was in the bathroom when her son took off.

The officer at the scene compared the boy to "Spanky" from the "Little Rascals."