Boy, 2, crashes family car

NEWS.com.au ^ | September 12, 2003 | The Associated Press, From correspondents in Tampa

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

A two-year-old boy slipped out of his mother's locked motel room, climbed into the family car and accidentally drove it through a door and window and into the room, authorities said.

The child, Rex Davis, was not injured and no-one else was hurt in the accident yesterday morning.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's office said Rex's mother, Ginna Hopkins, was taking a shower when the boy got out.

"It's almost unbelievable that a two-year-old could have done that," Lieutenant Rod Reder said.

One detective dubbed him "Little Houdini."

Hopkins had left the unlocked car in first gear, and it lurched forward about 2.5 metres when Rex started the vehicle, crashing through a door and window at the Red Roof Inn and causing about $US2000 ($3000) in damage, Reder said.

Even as one deputy investigated, Rex left the locked room again and climbed back into the car.

Hopkins declined to comment. She won't be charged.

"The child was well cared for, the door was locked, and the mother has to take a shower sometime," Reder said. "She just has a very precocious child."

[Willie Green]

"Hold muh diaper and watch this!"

[Poohbah]

I'm probably breaking a union rule here, but...

"Just DAMN."

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

I hear they're making him an honorary Kennedy.

[cake_crumb]

Darn. Reminds me of the time my two neices did that. They managed to coast my sister's car down the sloping driveway and into a ditch across the road, with my brother in-law chasing the car all the way down trying to stop it.

They were older though. That IS one precocious kid.

[cyclotic]

Old story. Same thing happened to my brother 35 years ago. I was five and taking my nap. He was two. My mom put him in the front seat, started the car and realized she forgot something in the house. Jumped out, leaving the door open. By the time she got back, the car was gone, the car door was laying on the ground by the house and the car was cruising in reverse down the driveway. By the time she jumped in the car, my brother had run over two shrubs, destroyed my tricycle, done a U-turn in the street and was heading up the neighbors drive.

My dad, (not the mechanical type) invented a whole bunch of new words while he spent two days trying to put the door back on.

[4mycountry]

invented a whole bunch of new words while he spent two days trying to put the door back on.

LOL!!

[bandleader]

My older brother did something akin to this when he(aged 6)drove our grandfather's car through the garage door in Santa Monica,CA.(1953).I never did really like him(only kidding)!!!

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[NormalGuy]

At 3 and 4 my brother and I used to put the car in neutral and roll it down the driveway, pretending to drive. We could never get the clutch thing right (1947).

[visualops]

Hopkins had left the unlocked car in first gear, and it lurched forward about 2.5 metres when Rex started the vehicle

So the kid took the keys too?

[4mycountry]

The child, Rex Davis,

You can't make this stuff up... (wrecks)

[Marie]

My son did this when he was three (crashed it into our house), but that can't beat my mom's story. Two weeks ago she left her dog in the car for ten minutes while she ran into the library to make some copies. The dog managed to put the car in neutral (wrapped the leash around it), take off the emergency brake and roll the car 1/2 a block down a hill into a telephone pole.

In this story's case, I'm happy that CPS didn't try to take the kid or make her out to be an unfit parent.

[SquirrelKing]

In this story's case, I'm happy that CPS didn't try to take the kid or make her out to be an unfit parent.

Suprised she hasn't been attacked by naked protestors from PETA.

Her pup needs some lessons from Toonces the driving cat.

[SavageRepublican]

When he was little (about 7 or 8), my brother-in-law piled all the cats into his dad's car and took them for a ride down the driveway. If I remember the story right, he crashed into a tree at the bottom.

[SquirrelKing]

he crashed into a tree at the bottom.

Amazed he wasn't shredded into coleslaw by those terrified cats.

[rface]

I bet this little guy was able to get a California drivers lic. Anybody can get 'em you know.

[CheneyChick]

This poor mama has a lot of work ahead in raising this one.

[glory]

The child was well cared for, the door was locked, and the mother has to take a shower sometime," Reder said. "She just has a very precocious child."
______________

I'll say. My son is exactly the same way. He's 3 1/2 and he is in to everything! Thankfully he still can't maneuver the lock on the storm door(neither can my 5 yr old).

[glory]

Ok, I'm seeing a pattern here. Lot's of boys involved! LOL Mischievous little devils, my son included! Man, oh man, he keeps me on my toes and he's only 3 1/2. I stepped outside the other day to walk my husband's nephew out and in the 5 minutes we were talking, my son got ahold of the big sugar bin I use for baking and had the sugar dumped EVERYWHERE!!!!