8-Year-Old Drives Family Car to Target, Bedford Police Report

BEDFORD, OHIO — An 8-year-old girl drove her family’s car over 10 miles to a Target in Bainbridge before being found safe by police, sparking a mixture of relief and amazement in the local community. The incident occurred on Sunday, Sept. 15, and was caught on a resident's dashcam, which shows the young driver navigating busy roads.

According to Bedford Police, the department received a call about a missing child early that morning. Shortly after, another call came in reporting a small child driving east on Rockside Road, raising immediate concerns. In dashcam footage, a man can be heard reporting to dispatch that the car behind him was “swerving everywhere,” eventually exclaiming, “It looks like a kid!”

The child drove a 2020 Nissan Rogue on her way to Target in Bainbridge, over 11 miles from her home. The police later found the car parked safely in the Target parking lot. Although it is unclear which route she took, Google Maps estimates a typical 20-25 minute drive between the locations. During the drive, the girl reportedly struck a mailbox, but no injuries were reported.

In a lighthearted Facebook post, the Bedford Police Department recounted the event. “An 8-year-old took mommy’s car this morning and drove to Bainbridge to shop,” the post read. They later added, “We did let her finish her Frappuccino. We’re not mean.” The post received comments ranging from disbelief to humor, with one user joking, “This is the best out of all the kids driving stories.” Another noted how impressive it was that a child so young managed to complete the journey. Many, however, point out that this is only a funny and lighthearted story because it ended without anyone getting hurt; pointing out how bad things could have turned out.

The girl's family was notified and came to pick her up at the store, along with the vehicle. Because of her age, authorities confirmed that no criminal charges would be filed. "We are just grateful no one was hurt," police said.