“This has got to be a record for the youngest driver in a pursuit that I’ve ever seen,” said Police Chief John Majoy. “Eleven years old—for God’s sake, that’s incredible.”
According to Majoy, a license plate reader alerted officers to the stolen vehicle as it traveled along Harvard Avenue. When officers attempted to pull the car over, the young driver sped off, heading west on Harvard and across the Denison Bridge.
“Then they made an abrupt left turn, lost control, and smashed into the side of a house,” Majoy said.
The crash occurred at the corner of Denison Avenue and West 20th Street, where resident Daniel Reilly was upstairs watching television when he heard the impact.
“A big bang—a lot of noise,” Reilly told 3News.
Majoy said the children fled the scene on foot but were quickly detained. During questioning, they told officers they had learned how to steal cars by watching YouTube videos.
“In the photos we have, you can see the steering column cracked and a USB cord used to hot-wire the car,” Majoy explained.
The children were later released to their parents, and charges are expected to be filed in juvenile court. Reilly said he’s thankful no one was hurt and that the damage to his home was minimal.
“I don’t think the kids understand that they’re not just putting their own lives at risk, but also other innocent people,” Reilly said. “This isn’t a video game—this is real life.”
No injuries were reported.