Trooper Pulls Over Swerving Van On Highway, Finds Five-Year-Old Behind The Wheel

May 14, 2020

A police officer from Utah got the surprise of his life when he pulled over a swerving SUV during his patrol last week only to find a five-year-old child behind the wheel.

Highway Patrol Trooper Rick Morgan noticed a vehicle weaving in and out of the traffic lanes on I-15 last Monday, May 4. Trooper Morgan initially thought that the driver of the vehicle was either impaired or suffering from a medical problem but was shocked to find 5-year-old Adrian Zamarripa behind the wheel.

Surprised at the sole occupant of the SUV, the stunned trooper can be heard on his dashcam video asking the little boy how he learned how to drive.

Speaking with reporters from FOX 13 News Utah, Trooper Morgan recalled how little Adrian was sitting on the edge of the driver’s seat with his foot on the brake pedal. With Trooper Morgan’s help, Adrian was able to put the vehicle in park. Remarking at the scene, Trooper Morgan feels that it was good that Adrian knew enough to pull the car to the side of the road.

Upon further investigation, Trooper Morgan learned that Adrian had decided to drive himself to California to buy a Lamborghini after getting in an argument with his mom, who refused to buy him such an expensive car. Adrian took $3 with him to pay for the luxury vehicle.

After the stop, Utah Highway Patrol reunited Adrian with his parents and conducted a thorough investigation into the extent of the incident. Officers determined that the little boy had only driven about 2 miles from his home and that he never exceeded 30 miles per hour while driving.

After speaking with the family, Weber County Attorney Chris Allred announced that no charges would be filed in connection with the incident. Mr. Allred said that while Adrian’s parents were at work, the young boy’s 16-year-old sister, Sidney Flores, was tending to him. While the teenage girl was napping, Adrian snuck out and started on his brief adventure.

Ogden, Utah resident Jeremy Neves was moved to contact Adrian’s family and ask if he could treat the young boy to a ride in his Lamborghini Huracan. The next day, Jeremy spent an hour driving Adrian and his family around their neighborhood in his sleek sports car. While feeling that what the young boy did was dangerous, Jeremy told reporters that he admires Adrian’s determination.

To sum it up, Adrian’s story shows the vigilance of our men and women in uniform. Trooper Morgan saved young Adrian from an extremely dangerous situation that could have caused harm to both him and other drivers.

What do you think of Adrian and Trooper Morgan’s story? What’s the craziest thing that your kids have ever done? Be sure to pass this on to others!