Authorities: Boy, 9 crashes car into CHP vehicle

A 9-year-old boy, who decided to drive himself to school in his mother's car without her knowing, crashed with a California Highway Patrol vehicle Wednesday morning after a short chase in Oroville, authorities said.

About 9:20 a.m., an officer with the CHP's Oroville office spotted a gray Volkswagen sedan stopped oddly in the middle of the intersection at Grand Avenue and Fourth Street. The officer — not knowing a 9-year-old child was behind the wheel — instructed the car's driver to move, the CHP announced Wednesday afternoon in a Facebook post.

The CHP said the car unexpectedly sped away, and “a short and erratic” vehicle chase ensued before it ended in a dirt parking lot just east of nearby Plumas Avenue Elementary School.

The car had come to a stop in the dirt parking lot before the Volkswagen suddenly backed up and rammed the patrol vehicle, the CHP said.

After the crash, the officer approached the car and found “the wide-eyed 9-year-old child” in the Volkswagen's driver seat, the CHP said. No injuries were reported, and both vehicles sustained minor damage.

The CHP said the boy had decided to drive himself to school in his mother's car, which led to the vehicle pursuit and the crash “that could have led to a grave outcome.”

“We are relieved to report that no one was injured in this incident,” CHP officials wrote in the Facebook post. “The child was safely sent to school after the necessary authorities were alerted and the situation was documented.” CHP officials asked the public to use the unusual event as a catalyst for conversations about safety.

“This incident underscores the critical need for all drivers to be licensed, educated and aware of the risks of the road,” the CHP said in the Facebook post. “It also serves as a wakeup call to secure our vehicles and educate our children on the dangers of unauthorized driving.”