Police Sgt. Mike Flatt told The Detroit News that a boy who took the family car on a joyride while his mother was shopping crashed through the front of a children’s clothing store.
According to police, the child asked to wait in the car while his mother was in the Carters’ store on Orchard Lake Road near 14 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. The child decided to drive around the parking lot, but when he started to head toward the road, the boy put the car in reverse and plowed through the front window of the store. The vehicle stopped approximately 15 feet inside, toppling merchandise. Fortunately, Carters’ was not crowded at the time and no one injured. The boy, whom police would describe only as a juvenile, was released to his mother. Prosecutors are expected to review the case for possible juvenile charges.
Every day, children are left unattended in or around vehicles – a danger most people greatly underestimate. As result, a growing number of children are seriously injured or die from hyperthermia, heat stroke, strangulations, back-overs, front-overs and other crashes, such as this one. Let this be an important reminder to all parents that leaving a child in the car, even for a second, is not only dangerous but can be deadly.
- Keep car keys away from children. With recent technology, all it takes is the key fob to be near the car for the vehicle to start at the push of a button.
- Keep the car doors locked at all times, even when the vehicle is parked at home.
- Young children should never be left alone inside a vehicle, even when the engine is turned off.
- Never leave children alone around vehicles.
- Even if you are intending to start the car again very shortly, always remove the ignition keys. A child could start the vehicle or someone could jump in and drive off with your car and child.
For more safety tips and how to keep children safe in and around vehicles, visit www.kidsandcars.org.
Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company.
