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Mother arrested after child drives to gas station
A Riverview mother was arrested after Hillsborough County deputies said she allowed her 11-year-old child with autism to drive an SUV to a gas station, where the child crashed into a concrete barrier. FOX 13's Blake DeVine reports.
RIVERVIEW, Fla. - A Riverview mother was arrested after Hillsborough County deputies said she allowed her 11-year-old child with autism to drive an SUV to a gas station, where the child crashed into a concrete barrier.
11-year-old 7-Eleven crash investigation
The backstory:
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded shortly after 8:30 p.m. Sunday to a 7-Eleven on Gordon Road after receiving a report that a child had crashed a vehicle into a concrete traffic barrier.
Investigators learned that Carribean Myers, 41, allowed her 11-year-old child to drive from their home to the gas station while she was in the vehicle as a passenger, HCSO said.
Deputies said the child, who has autism, was trying to stop the SUV when they mistakenly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake, causing the vehicle to crash into the barrier.
Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
No one was injured.
The vehicle and the 7-Eleven building were damaged in the crash, according to the sheriff's office.
Riverview mother child abuse arrest
Dig deeper:
During the investigation, deputies discovered that Myers had not had a valid driver's license since July 13.
Investigators also learned that Myers had previously allowed her underage children to drive without a valid driver's license, according to HCSO.
"This could have ended in tragedy, and luckily no one was injured because of this," HCSO Public Relations Coordinator Casey Minuto said. "No child should ever be permitted to be behind the wheel."
Myers was arrested and faces charges of child abuse and permitting an unauthorized minor to drive. As of Monday night, Myers remains behind bars at the Orient Road Jail.
Sheriff condemns reckless driving decisions
What they're saying:
"Putting an 11-year-old behind the wheel is reckless and could have ended in tragedy," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "This mother made a dangerous decision that put her child and everyone around them at risk. Parents have a responsibility to protect their children, not place them in situations that could get them or someone else seriously hurt. We will hold anyone accountable who puts a child in danger."
The investigation remains active, according to HCSO.
Community reaction
Local perspective:
Rebecca Rountree was working at the 7-Eleven when the crash happened around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. She heard the impact from inside the store.
"I heard a big crash, I came out here and there was a truck crashed into here," Rountree said. "There was a bunch of customers out here, trying to stop a lady from leaving."
Rountree was shocked to learn that the driver was only 11-years-old.
"Autism is a big spectrum, just because you have autism doesn't mean you can't drive," she said. "It's a very big spectrum, but I didn't think it was a young child. I thought it was like a 16 or 17-year-old."
Rountree says the SUV stopped just feet from her 7-Eleven store.
"They would have driven through our store and there would been a lot of injuries," Rountree concluded. "It was a busy night and there were a lot people in that line."
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.