[12-14-2024] – 11-Year-Old Driver Loses Control of Minivan During Rainstorm

Oroville, CA – An 11-year-old behind the wheel of a minivan crashed in a rainstorm north of Sacramento after attempting to evade a traffic stop, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The incident took place on Saturday at around 10:42 a.m. just north of Oroville in Butte County, which is approximately 70 miles from Sacramento.

The CHP Oroville office reported receiving multiple calls about a reckless driver on southbound State Route 99, just north of State Route 149. Witnesses described the silver minivan as swerving across lanes and traveling at inconsistent speeds. Officers successfully located the vehicle on southbound SR-149 and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver accelerated away towards southbound SR-70, prompting officers to cease the pursuit due to the hazardous storm conditions.

Around 11:40 a.m., law enforcement in Chico, located about 27 miles northeast of Oroville, informed the CHP that the driver of the vehicle was indeed an 11-year-old minor, as indicated by the child’s guardian. Just seven minutes later, the CHP received further reports about the minor again driving southbound on SR-149 towards SR-70, heading into Oroville.

Officers positioned themselves at the Garden Drive exit off SR-70. When the minivan exited at Garden Drive, officers attempted to communicate with the young driver on the offramp. Initially, the minor stopped but quickly sped away again. The CHP reported that officers monitored the vehicle’s movements at speeds of around 50 mph without using lights or sirens to avoid alarming the minor and provoking a dangerous high-speed flight.

The CHP noted that their actions were focused on safety for both the minor and the public, as there was no feasible way to communicate directly with the child at the time. Following this, the vehicle exited SR-70 at another exit and drove through a heavily flooded area at approximately 60 miles per hour before overturning.

To rescue the minor, officers removed the front windshield of the minivan. Thankfully, the child did not appear to have sustained any visible injuries and was wearing a seatbelt, as stated by the CHP. Medics transported the minor to a local hospital as a precaution. Fortunately, no other injuries or damages have been reported in connection with this incident.

The CHP Oroville Area Office is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident but has not yet released additional information.