GLENDALE, AZ — Glendale police say one person was injured when a 6-year-old child took his parents' keys and drove a vehicle into a nearby home early Tuesday morning.
Officers were called to the area of 83rd and Northern avenues for a car crash in a neighborhood. A truck had struck the corner of a home with aerial scene video showing serious damage.
Police say the driver of the vehicle, a 6-year-old boy, woke up in the middle of the night and grabbed his parents' keys to their truck.
"The child got into the parents' vehicle and started it, reversed it, and drove down the street into a house," police told ABC15.
No serious injuries were reported, but one person in the home suffered minor injuries.
Ligia Visoan rushed to her sister's home when she heard about the crash Tuesday morning.
"She was asleep, she heard the noise and debris [fell] on her head, she woke up and she said she thought she woke up in hell because everything was so pitch black," Visoan said. "She just kept feeling things falling on her."
Visoan told ABC15 her sister suffered multiple bruises but fortunately nothing more serious, as she was asleep in the room hit by the truck.
"I don't think I've had time to process it yet," Visoan said. "I think I'm still in shock and I'm just glad that everyone is ok."
Glendale police said there won't be any criminal charges filed against the boy's parents in the case, but it's a reminder to not underestimate young kids.
Police said the boy's father was up in the morning and heard the rev of the engine. When the truck barreled down into the neighbor's home, the father thought someone had stolen the vehicle and was shocked to find his son had taken the keys and then taken off with the truck.
"The truck was actually pulled into the driveway," said Sgt. Randy Stewart with the Glendale Police Department. "So the child, we're still not sure how, but got the vehicle in reverse, backed the vehicle out, put the vehicle in drive and went forward."
Neighbors told ABC15 they heard the crash and were surprised to find a young boy behind the wheel of the vehicle.
"We thought it was a drunk driver," said neighbor Julia Espinoza. "But it was a six-year-old little boy."
A man who lives at the home where the truck crashed told ABC15 after the crash he went out and opened the truck door and found the boy behind the wheel. That man told ABC15 the boy said to him, "I'm six-years-old and I'm stuck."
Visoan said this should serve as a lesson for other families.
"Make sure where you put your keys, hide them," she said. "Hide them, for sure."
Getting a look inside Glendale home hit by truck driven by 6yo who took his parents keys and took off down the street.
— Mike Pelton (@MikePeltonABC15) February 9, 2021
This is a bedroom. Family says close call for the woman sleeping here.
Family member says he opened truck door, kid said “I’m six and I’m stuck” @abc15 pic.twitter.com/CaiQxubwT7
A gas leak occurred at the time of the crash, but lines have since been shut off. Utilities are in the process of being secured.
Police say the child is OK and is now with his parents. The investigation is ongoing.
