Siblings, aged 10, 11, make runaway bid in stolen car in Florida
Police in Florida were in for a surprise when they pulled over a vehicle on a major highway, only to discover that the driver was a 10-year-old boy.
This unusual encounter occurred in Alachua, hundreds of miles away from where the children had been reported missing by their mother earlier in the week.
The young boy, accompanied by his 11-year-old sister, had embarked on a runaway adventure after their mother confiscated their electronic gadgets.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s office described the late-night traffic stop, which took place at 03:50 local time (07:50 GMT) on Thursday, as “high risk.”
“Much to their surprise deputies observed a 10-year-old male driver exit, with his sister,” they said.
The white sedan the pair had been travelling in had been reported missing by their mother in North Port, Florida, a city more than 200 miles (320km) from Alachua.
Officers learned that “both children were upset with their mother because she took away their electronic devices, which is believed to have been done because they were not using them appropriately”, the sheriff’s office said.
Police added there was no reason to believe they were being mistreated at home.
The children’s mother drove three hours north to Alachua to collect her children.
“Our detectives did speak with their mother at length who was clearly doing her best to raise two young children and she was very receptive to the recommendations they provided in helping her get assistance,” police said.
The legal age to obtain a learner’s permit in Florida is 15, while drivers must be 18 years old to apply for a full licence.
