Police Find Missing 8-Year-Old After She Drives to Target®
Exterior of typical Target store. Photo courtesy of Mike Kalasnik under CC BY-SA 2.0.
An 8-year-old girl in Ohio took an unexpected and dangerous joyride when she drove her mother's SUV to a Target® store, about 25 minutes away, sparking concern among her family and local police. The incident on Sept. 15, 2024 captured attention after the young girl was safely located at the store, happily sipping on a Frappuccino, unaware of the stir she had caused.
Surprise Joyride
The Bedford Police Department responded to a 911 call from the girl's family, who reported her missing after they discovered she had left the house around 7 a.m. Surveillance footage from a neighbor's Ring® camera showed the girl climbing into her mother's 2020 Nissan Rogue® and driving off alone. For nearly two hours, her family and police searched for her.
Dashcam footage from a driver in the area captured the young girl's journey, showing the Nissan weaving between lanes. The footage, later shared with police, highlighted just how risky the situation was, with the girl barely controlling the SUV on her drive to the store. While there were no major accidents, the child admitted to hitting a mailbox during her trip.
Sweet Relief
Bainbridge police officers eventually located the girl in the parking lot of a Target store, 11 miles from her home. Remarkably, she appeared calm and was found inside the store, enjoying a Frappuccino. Her family soon arrived to pick her up, relieved to find her safe, despite the potentially disastrous consequences of her actions.
The Bedford Police Department shared a light-hearted post about the event on Facebook, writing, "An 8-year-old took mommy's car this morning and drove to Bainbridge to shop." The police also joked, "Not sure what she bought or if she was even able to use her Target app to save 5%... We did let her finish her Frappuccino. We're not mean."
While the humor helped diffuse the seriousness of the event, the incident raised concerns about child safety and how an 8-year-old managed to drive for nearly half an hour without adult supervision. Several commenters on social media expressed astonishment at the girl's ability to navigate the roads, albeit imperfectly. "This is the best out of all the kids driving stories. Long distance and she got everything correctly," one user noted. Others shared similar stories of mischievous childhood adventures, adding a layer of relatability to the tale.
What Mailbox?
Thankfully, no one was hurt during the incident, although the vehicle sustained minor damage. Police noted that while the girl was uninjured, she did cause some damage to her mother's car when she hit the mailbox along the way. There's no word on how the girl was able to purchase the Frappuccino or whether she bought anything at Target, with authorities more focused on ensuring her safe return to her family.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding car keys and ensuring children understand the dangers of operating a vehicle. Though this story ended safely, the potential risks could have led to a far more tragic outcome.
References: 8-year-old who drove to an Ohio Target in mom's SUV caught on dashcam video: Watch | 8-year-old girl captured on dashcam taking a 25-minute joyride to Target
