7-Year-Old Michigan Boy Steals Car, Drives It 20 Miles To Visit His Dad (VIDEO)

A seven-year-old Michigan boy who had to stand up to reach the gas and brake pedals while driving was pulled over by police on Monday morning after traveling more than 20 miles in his stepfather's car.

The boy, who lives with his mother and stepfather 100 miles northeast of Detroit, was barefoot and wearing pajamas when police caught up with him, the New York Daily News reported.

"He was crying and just kept saying he wanted to go to his dad's," Caseville Police Chief Jamie Learman told The Associated Press. "That was pretty much it. He just wanted to go to his dad's."

The boy drove the red Pontiac Sunfire as fast as 70 mph, according to the Daily News, and veered onto the shoulder several times.

The boy's mother, who works a late shift, was sleeping when the youngster got behind the wheel.

The Department of Human Services and the Huron County Prosecutor's Office have not determined if any charges will be filed, although Tim Rutkowski, the county's prosecutor, said on Wednesday that there is no evidence that the boy was taught how to drive.

WATCH:

Listen to the 911 call:

Comments

[Francisco Alvarado]

11:09 AM on 06/29/2011

What a great Little Boy, God is at Work, Children s will own the World. I Love him, I know his Father will be Proud of him, Man to man, that boy has it, He can surely Say "God is my Co-Pilot" he is Precious.

[ADRealist]

10:25 PM on 06/25/2011

He drives better than my wife does. She's from overseas... I spent 3 months teaching her how to drive and on the first day by herself she panicked driving down a residential street, confused the gas for the break peddle, and hit a tree going 50mph. Totalling the car, and leaving the owners who arrive back from vacation wondering, "Hey didn't there used to be a big tree in our front yard?"

It's amazing how dangerous of a weapon driving a car can be; compared to alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and other things that are either illegal to a certain age, or a straight up felony no matter what. When a car carries more danger than all of those combined.

[Linda Wheeler Weigel]

01:36 PM on 06/24/2011

I'm just glad he didn't panic and crash.. Poor little guy. Actually pretty brave to go off and do something like that! In the end people shouldn't even begin to attempt to suggest that perhaps parents are abusive etc.. No one knows the circumstances. Lets just be glad no one was hurt!

[sensegodgave]

12:20 PM on 06/24/2011

This is just more evidence to suggest how valuable men are in their children's lives. Sad that people assume he left and doesn't care, when the fact that his son loves him and misses him is evidence that he has a good relationship with his father. What's a more likely conclusion is that the father had to move to find work and make the court-ordered child support payments, or that the mother moved herself and the child to be closer to her parents once the relationship ended. Or that the mother is abusive and neglectful and the child was desperate for his dad. No one really knows. But we need to stop this narrative of deadbeat dads and guiltless victim mothers...because it isn't true and is corrupting our family courts and hurting a generation of kids. Like this one.

[whyanything]

06:18 AM on 06/24/2011

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[dil123]

06:39 PM on 06/23/2011

Damn those video games!!! Teaching our children how to drive!!!

[justthomas]

06:13 PM on 06/23/2011

many police brutality video is hidden from public

[clarissa49]

09:59 AM on 06/23/2011

Fortunately, this incident ended well. The boy was not hurt or killed as well as anyone else.
Recently, a thirteen-year old boy "stole" his grandmother's car nearby my hometown. A high speed chase resulted in his driving in front of an 18 wheeler truck. A law enforcement officer was injured, and the boy himself is in a coma.

[racerx0909]

09:44 AM on 06/23/2011

I remember and have pic's of my kid in my car on my wife lap at 6months old. She figured out where the key goes, I was shocked so was my wife. Today kids are a lot smarter

[tmf1977]

09:41 AM on 06/23/2011

With all the video games and small cars kids have access to play with today, it should not be too much of a shock that this kid knew how to drive. Fortunately the road this kid was traveling on was a straight path. I'm glad that this kid is OK.

I know some people have made comments about the parents. No one really knows this kid's circumstances. My sister is a school teacher and this is common place for kids wanting to leave to visit or see the other parent when a divorce/break-up takes place. I also agree with one poster that we don't even know if the natural born/parental father may have made several promises to see the kid and fell short. This kid could also be upset if his father moved away recently. Whatever the case, hopefully CPS looks into this to make sure that this kid is OK.

[j14kline]

08:55 AM on 06/23/2011

That brings back memories for some of us I'm sure, my brother and i tried to sneak off through the walnut orchard made it about 200 yards before getting stuck, I honestly cannot remember the punishment, but growing up on a ranch there was usually some sort of hard labor attached, among other things.

[angler725]

08:45 AM on 06/23/2011

Goes to show you how we all have adapted to crazy drivers on the roads.

[hunkindoo1]

08:28 AM on 06/23/2011

You know what! The kids is smart enough to know thats how you get around! You people that are trying to insinuate that there is something bihind it go jump off a cliff! He wanted to see his dad! He seven, he doesn't know the laws, he just knows thats a way to get around!

[lindaborica]

01:24 AM on 06/23/2011

Thank God that child is still alive! He did seem to have some great driving skills, and he knew when he had to stop. Lots of adults in that same position wouldn't have ended it until there was an accident. Kudos to the boy. I hope his father came and seen him. I read a few others comments saying its the moms or steps fault maybe its the dads fault maybe he promised to come see him AGAIN and didn't and he was tired of it. No child born in this age was done so alone. That has not happened in a long time but it seems like today only one parent is left responsible while the other runs off willy nilly not physically mentally or financially responsible and it is a downright shame.

[thesilentcrow]

01:00 AM on 06/23/2011

everyone wants to blame the parents...always. there are kids out there that are just brutally impulsive and decide that by diddly, they're going to do what they want to do come hell or high water. it is odd that the kid was crying and in his pajamas...though maybe he was crying for fear of the trouble he was going to be in for stealing the car and maybe he was in his pajamas because school's out for summer and it's the time of year when kids can laze about and wear their PJs all day. on a brighter note, he's got bloody good driving skills for being so young.

[Main Mainley]

08:24 AM on 06/23/2011

Not if their parents treat them right and actually take care of them.
"Bloody?" Stick to news about your pretentious royalty.

[Daly]

02:35 AM on 06/24/2011

gone off on him a bit? it was a compliment to his driving skills that annoy you ?  Bollix

[Isobel Quinn]

06:45 AM on 06/24/2011

and our pretentious kennedys, and celebrities (who are basically just america's royalty) ...come on. not to mention, i'm an american, and i use the word bloody. it isn't exclusive to the british...but of course, i'm guessing you're just another hick with a broadband connection, so you probably wouldn't know that.