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Allegedly Intoxicated 12-Year-Old Driver Crashes Car During Police Pursuit in Texas: Reports

A 12-year-old boy is suspected of being under the influence when he crashed his car after nearly hitting a cyclist, striking a pickup truck and leading police on a pursuit in Austin, Texas, on Monday.

The incident began shortly after 7:30 a.m. when an officer saw a driver weaving through traffic, Austin-area television station KXAN reported, citing police.

“He initially thought it was someone distracted, but once he saw the driver going over the line, he thought the person was impaired,” Austin Police Department Officer Ivan Ramos told the station.

The driver took off when the officer tried to pull him over, according to police.

The officer saw the preteen nearly strike a cyclist and then collide with a pickup truck with two people inside, according to KVUE in Austin.

The child struck a utility pole and flipped the car over, effectively ending the chase, according to both television stations.

The injured boy was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He is expected to be OK.

No other injuries were reported; the 12-year-old boy was the lone occupant in his car, according to KVUE.

The driver faces a number of possible charges, including driving while intoxicated, evading arrest, and failure to stop and render aid, both TV stations reported.

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