In a turn of events that reads more like a plot from a tween adventure movie, actual law enforcement in Enumclaw, Washington encountered a group of kids, some barely into their teenage years, at the wheel and in the seats of a stolen vehicle. According to KOMO News, the vehicle, filled with youngsters aged 11 to 14, was spotted driving erratically along State Route 164 before being located at a Texaco station by Washington State Patrol.
Upon arrival at the scene, Trooper Rick Johnson found the adolescent driver, merely 13, engaging in the seemingly mundane act of pumping gas, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. A further glimpse revealed other passengers, ranging in ages from 11 to 14, all of whom were inside the convenience store, likely reveling in the sweet spoils of candy aisles—a stark contrast to the illicit backdrop of their transportation.
Consistent accounts from both news sources sketch the outlines of an incident that is jarring in its childish innocence colliding with the gravity of car theft. After the car's erratic behavior prompted reports to authorities, swift police work brought a peculiar chase to an end at the gas station.
The fact that these were no hardened criminals but rather a band of kids barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel adds a layer of complexity to a situation typically reserved for seasoned lawbreakers. As underscored in the original statement by Washington State Patrol, the driver, who shoulders the title of adolescent far longer than they shouldered the responsibility of a stolen car, was found alongside their juvenile accomplices.
So… this car was reported as driving erratically on SR 164 in the Enumclaw area. Troopers were able to find the vehicle at the Texaco. This was a stolen car. The driver was 13 and the passengers were 11, 13, 13 and 14. pic.twitter.com/r5x5HTAcuw
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) March 14, 2025
