Texas Police: Driver Who Led Cops on Chase Was Drunk, 12 Years Old

There's a certain philosophy, though certainly one to which we do not subscribe, that says if you're going to get into trouble, you might as well get your money's worth.

For instance, if you're going to get into some mischief as a 12-year-old, why not grab a truck to joyride around in? And if you're going to joyride around in a truck, why not get a little buzz on first? And if you're going to joyride a truck under the influence, why not get the police involved to chase you around while you bounce the truck off another pickup and a telephone pole?

Just a normal Monday morning in Austin, Texas.

Now THAT Is How You Play Hooky

Who needs seventh grade when you can get lit and drive around at 7 a.m.? According to Austin's KVUE:

• An officer initially tried to stop the boy, when the officer saw him nearly strike a cyclist;
• The boy proceeded to drive recklessly down Pleasant Valley Road;
• He hit a pickup with two people inside, and never stopped (nobody was injured in the crash);
• He then slammed into a pole and flipped over.

The entire episode was completed by 7:45 a.m. Monday morning, so we know our lil' outlaw got an early start on the festivities. By the time officers caught up with him he was intoxicated, injured and transported to the hospital.

Juvenile, Juiced, and Joyriding

The boy, whose name has not yet been released, is now facing driving while intoxicated, evading arrest, and failure to stop and render aid charges. In Texas, you can be convicted of failing to stop after an accident if you do not remain at the scene of the accident and provide license, registration, and insurance information, and this particular pre-teen is looking at thousands of dollars in fines if he's charged as an adult.

Hope it was worth it, young whippersnapper.

Related Resources:

• Drunken 12-Year-Old Leads Police on Car Chase, Authorities Say (Austin Star-Telegram)
• Double DUI: PA Woman Charged Twice in a Day (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
• 2-Man-1-Car-3-Crash DUI May Be a First (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
• Kentucky Man Drives Drunk...to Police Station (FindLaw's Legally Weird)