7-year-old drives car from Clearfield to Ogden with 5-year-old passenger

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A 7-year-old boy went for a drive with a 5-year-old passenger on Sunday morning, and both children went home unscathed, according to the Ogden City Police Department.

Police said the boy had driven from Clearfield to Ogden (roughly 10 miles), and officials were alerted to a “reckless driver” around 8 a.m. on April 27. The person who called to report the incident “expressed concern that the driver appeared to be a young child,” and the incident was reported near 21st Street and Wall Avenue, police said.

Officials said the boy appeared to have taken a family vehicle “without parental knowledge.” Ogden PD said police attempted a traffic stop, but the boy did not yield.

“Given the totality of circumstances, including the suspected age of the driver and the heightened risk to public safety, officers deactivated their emergency equipment and chose not to pursue,” police said.

The vehicle was later located near 40th Street, where it was “disabled” after reportedly hitting a parking strip. The two children were found unharmed nearby, and were taken to a police station to be picked up by their parents. No other injuries were reported.

Ogden PD said no charges are being filed because of the driver’s age. Additionally, no identities of the involved parties are being released by police due to their age.

Connor Comeau contributed to this report.