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WTF(Weird Trivia & Facts)  Thursday, October 11, 2007 9:03 AM CDT
6-year-old tries to drive to Applebee's
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BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- A hungry 6-year-old grabbed his grandmother's car keys, positioned his child seat behind the steering wheel and tried to drive himself to an Applebee's restaurant.

He didn't get far.

Unable to take the car out of reverse, the boy backed up 75 feet from her house into a transformer Tuesday, knocking out electricity and phone service to dozens of townhouses in this suburb north of Denver.

No one was injured and the boy, whose name was not released, got out of his car and told his grandmother what happened.

"He proceeded to start the car and started backing up," said Sgt. Colleen O'Connell of the Broomfield Police Department. "He went backward about 47 feet, hit the curb, then went backward another 29 feet."

Investigators couldn't figure out how the boy reached the accelerator.

No charges will be filed.

"I have five children of my own, so I know you cannot watch them every minute they're awake," said nearby resident Nancy Hollis, whose power was knocked out by the accident.

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Reader comments on this story - 16 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

phil wrote on Oct 13, 2007 1:53 PM:

" WOOOOOAAAAAAAH!!!!! thats crazzzzzzyyyy. Lil one wanted some yums . WHOOAAah "

townie wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:48 AM:

" Funny that he wanted Crapplebee's...not a bad restaurant, but certainly not in my top ten! :o) "

at least wrote on Oct 12, 2007 8:15 AM:

" he knew he had to have his car seat. we all must follow the rules of the road. "

Ashlee wrote on Oct 12, 2007 7:54 AM:

" Thats Pretty Funny! My Brother Did The Same Thing When He Was Five! "

Mike wrote on Oct 11, 2007 2:36 PM:

" This kid is ballsey. I like that. "

they should use this wrote on Oct 11, 2007 1:10 PM:

" applebees should use this ina advertisement to draw more kids to eat there mcdonalds would jump at this iam sure to lure more kids there "

To; just me again wrote on Oct 11, 2007 8:00 AM:

" Black and Blue?!? Sounds like you need to be in jail. And since when did 6 year olds know better when it pertains to anything? "

Just me again... wrote on Oct 10, 2007 5:13 PM:

" Holy Moly! I cannot believe how reserved you people are! A 6 year old trying to drive a car is something kids do nowadays! No Way! My child would be black and blue and in the basement! No he wouldn't... because he would no better and that is what children are lacking these days! Supervision or no supervision the child should have known better! "

To: CRAZY wrote on Oct 10, 2007 4:26 PM:

" Yes, you are. "

Not a parent but... wrote on Oct 10, 2007 2:37 PM:

" I just want to make a stipulation......it doesn't matter if you have 1 child or 6, kids will be kids and sometimes they are going to do stupid things (this goes for adults too!) How the adult responds to the behavior/situation is what counts. "

Agrees wrote on Oct 10, 2007 1:55 PM:

" I have 6 children and I agree with the neighbor's quote at the end of the story. You cannot watch children every minute; and even if you try, they are fast enough and persistent enough to go after what they want the minute you blink. "

To CRAZY!!! wrote on Oct 10, 2007 12:59 PM:

" First of all, please stop yelling. We can all hear you just fine in lower case, and singular use of puncuation. Second of all, what did you have in mind? Put the child on a leash and tie him to a pole? Either you are outlandishly overprotective or you do not have or understand children. If they want something bad enough, they'll find a way. This child is 6 years old; you do not generally need to monitor someone of that age every minute of the day. The neighbor quoted at the end of the story has it right. "

CRAZY!!! wrote on Oct 10, 2007 12:33 PM:

" I'M WONDERING WERE HIS PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS WERE??? WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY DOING WHILE THIS CHILD WAS TRYING TO DRIVE A CAR??? IF THIS CHILD HAD BEEN INJURED DURING THIS LITTLE ESCAPADE THEN IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO CUTE!!! "

hire him wrote on Oct 10, 2007 10:47 AM:

" I want this kids resume' He is a self starter, has goals, and is highly motivated! "

AWESOME wrote on Oct 10, 2007 10:16 AM:

" Now that is funny and now I want some Applebee's. My question is how far away was Applebee's from this kids house. "

At Least wrote on Oct 10, 2007 9:37 AM:

" He's smart enough to stay away from certain fast food burger joints! "

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