Brothers, Aged 7 and 4, Steal Parents’ Car and Seriously Injure Woman

A woman walking her dog sustained critical injuries when a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old brother took their parents’ car for a joyride.

A white sedan was speeding down 35th Avenue in Oakland, California, when it struck the woman as she walked her dog. The incident was witnessed by several bystanders and captured on surveillance footage.

According to Oakland police, the 7-year-old was driving while his 4-year-old brother was also in the car. They allegedly took their parents’ Toyota while the parents were asleep, and the crash occurred several blocks from their home.

After the crash, the children were found outside the vehicle, while the woman remained in critical condition. Her dog also ran away from the scene, and its current status is unknown.

“It was loud,” witness Lavelle Shah-Marquis told ABC 7 News. “I pray that she’s okay, but it was bad, it was bad.”

Oakland police have located the boys’ parents, who are reportedly cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

In light of the incident, many witnesses are questioning who should be held accountable given the boys’ young ages.

“Unfortunately, I think these parents need to be held responsible, and that was my main concern; these parents need to be held responsible. This is ridiculous,” Shah-Marquis expressed to the outlet.

Legal analyst and former prosecutor Steven Clark acknowledged that penalizing anyone might be challenging due to the unusual circumstances. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s just such a one-off,” he shared with ABC 7 News.

“The law doesn’t have an exact remedy for this,” he added.

Clark pointed out that the act could be viewed as a crime, but the children likely won’t face criminal charges due to their age. “It is a crime that the seven-year-old committed, but we’re not going to put a seven-year-old in juvenile hall,” he noted.

He further questioned the “level of supervision of these kids” at the time of the car theft. “How did they get access to the vehicle?” Clark asked. “I’ve encountered similar cases where you rely on social workers, not prosecutors.”

Ultimately, Clark suggested that while no one may be criminally charged, a civil case is probable. “This isn’t like leaving a gun around for a kid. This is an automobile that we use every day, and it’s common to leave your car keys out,” he said.

The investigation into this case is still ongoing.

The Oakland Police Department did not respond immediately to Us’ request for comment regarding the case.