Drivers are getting younger and younger and shopping seems to be an irresistible allure even for children. The two things came together when on a quiet Sunday morning, an 8-year-old girl from Ohio got into her family’s SUV and embarked on an unexpected solo journey to a local Target store. The young adventurer managed to drive approximately 20 minutes from her home, navigating the roads in a 2020 Nissan Rogue. While some may find humor in the unusually young age of the eager driver/shopper, her family was distraught, and the incident has sparked a conversation about child supervision and safety.
The episode began when family members noticed the absence of both the child and the vehicle from their home. A search ensued and soon after the police started to investigate, they took a call “concerning a small child driving east on Rockside Road.” The SUV was eventually located in the parking lot of a Target store, nearly 13 miles from the girl’s home. Inside the store, the young explorer was found unharmed, having completed her journey with only a minor mishap involving a mailbox along the way. She also had $400 on her, part of which she had spent on her shopping spree.
The girl’s motivations for her impromptu trip remain unclear, but the incident has raised important questions about the security of vehicles and the natural curiosity of children.
Thankfully, the girl was safely returned home, and no serious harm came from her excursion. The local police department, while ensuring her safety, also maintained a sense of humor about the situation, noting the child’s enjoyment of a Frappuccino during her Target visit.
She will no doubt be telling this story to her children and grandchildren—and so will the neighbors.
Police reported that the girl is too young to be charged criminally and that they are grateful no one was injured.
