November 5, 2009

A 9-year-old boy was flown to Wesley Medical Center after he stole a mini van and wrecked it in the Cowley County town of Dexter around 8:00 Thursday morning.

The Sheriff's office said they responded to a one-vehicle accident in Dexter near the Mini Mart on K-15. Deputies learned that a 9-year-old in the vehicle was the driver of the 2007 Dodge Caravan.

The boy told authorities that he was sick and decided to leave school. The Sheriff's department later learned the boy had been taken to school to eat breakfast. He left the cafeteria after he decided not to eat at the school. Staff apparently didn't know he left because school had not started.

The Sheriff's Department said the boy then walked to 211 North Main where he got into the car, found the keys, and drove toward K-15 from the Mini Mart and went into the ditch. The boy then drove out of the ditch, into a vacant lot, made a U-turn, came back onto the highway, back into a ditch and struck a culvert. Deputies say the boy was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Sheriff Don Read said because they boy is under 10-years-old, he cannot be charged with any crime. A report is being filed on the van being taken and a child in need of care case.