9-year-old autistic driver suffers minor injury in crash on The Murfreesboro Post

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9-year-old autistic driver suffers minor injury in crash

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By: TMP Reports

Posted: Friday, August 21, 2009 2:09 pm

A 9-year-old autistic girl with the mental capacity of a 4-year-old drove her grandmother’s car up to 90 mph about 3:15 a.m. Friday from Bell Road before Metro Nashville Police stopped her near Smyrna, sheriff’s deputies reported.

Rutherford County deputies responded after the pursuit entered the county but the girl stopped before they got involved, Sgt. Chris Kauffman reported.

The girl, who drove without headlights, finally stopped at the 66-mile marker near Sam Ridley Parkway and a Metro Police officer pulled in front of her to keep her from leaving, Kauffman reported.

“She then accelerated and rammed the side of the patrol unit,” Kauffman reported. “Metro officers were forced to break the side windows out of the (locked) suspect vehicle in order to remove (the girl) from the car. (The girl) suffered minor facial injuries and small glass cuts from the wreck.”

Deputy Steve Craig reported paramedics treated the girl before taking her to StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna.

Her grandmother, who owned the car, was concerned only about her granddaughter’s welfare and not the car, the deputy reported.

Kauffman reported the grandmother didn’t know her granddaughter obtained the keys to the car and left the house.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Marvin investigated the crash.

Tagged under autism, Police chase

Member Opinions:

By: justdance on 8/21/09

Thank goodness this didn't turn out as bad as it could have.

By: attagirl on 8/21/09
Wow, talk about a Guardian Angel. 90 mph with no headlights on the interstate at night. Thank goodness she's okay.

By: parkerq on 8/21/09
This headline is alot nier that DNJ's girl 9 steals car. Keep up the better reporting post!!