Boy, 7, Takes Joyride in Family Car to Avoid Going to Church

Police in Utah say a 7-year-old boy led officers on a car chase in an effort to avoid going to church.

Dispatchers received reports of a child driving recklessly on Sunday morning. One witness said the boy drove through a stop sign, according to Weber County Sheriff's Capt. Clint Anderson.

Anderson said two deputies caught up with the boy and tried unsuccessfully to stop the Dodge Intrepid in an area about 45 miles north of Salt Lake City.

The car reached 40 mph before the child stopped in a driveway and ran into a home.

“Well, if I were to characterize the boy’s skills as driver, he’s not very good, if he were a legal driver," Anderson told FOX 13 in Utah. "As a 7-year-old, we’re really rather impressed with his ability to have not gotten into any accidents."

Anderson said the boy told his dad he'd sped away because he didn't want to go to church.

The child is too young to prosecute and no citations were issued, although police did urge the father to make his car keys less accessible to his children.

Click here for video of the chase from FOX 13.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.