16-year-old was behind wheel of big rig that crashed off 210 Freeway [Updated]

An unlicensed 16-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a big rig that careened off the 210 Freeway in Lake View Terrace early Tuesday, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The teenager's 20-year-old brother was supposed to be driving the truck, which was carrying a load of whipped cream and sour cream, but he let his younger brother take the wheel while he took a nap, said CHP officer Miguel Luevano.

[For the record, 3:05 p.m.: In an earlier version of this post, the CHP incorrectly reported that the teen's older brother was originally driving the big rig. It was his father.]

The 16-year-old fell asleep and lost control of the rig, crashing it into the edge of a mobile home park near Osborne Street about 3:38 a.m.

No serious injuries were reported, but firefighters initially had trouble locating the brothers because they were hiding in nearby bushes.

When investigators found the teenager and questioned him, he admitted to being behind the wheel, Luevano said.

He could face charges for driving without a license, the CHP reported on its Twitter feed.

CHP officials warned drivers to avoid the area or be prepared to encounter serious traffic delays. At least two eastbound lanes are expected to stay closed until 3 p.m. as crews work to remove the truck from the side of the road.

RELATED:

Big rig flips over side of 210 Freeway in Lake View Terrace

-- Tony Barboza and Richard Winton

Comments

[Eric of Reseda]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make it a law that certain people are NOT allowed top have children....I know, I know, sounds like Communist China....But think of how many morons HAVEN'T been born there since they limited the number of kids people can have. True, some genuises haven't been born that may have been, but I'd rather have fewer geniuses and fewer morons than more genuises and more morons...who just screw up what the genuises devise anyway....

[SeanBoy]

I think there is a comedy of really bad judgments somewhere in this situation.

[SireneB]

Not licensed at all, or not licensed to drive trucks?

[KW]

His time/mileage Record of Duty Status wouldn't have been legit then, anyhow. How was he expecting to justify going over his daily driving hours?

[ThaBeav]

I wonder if the father let the kid drive because the father was getting sleepy?
Ironic, no?

[Dick Tator]

Agreed with Eric... We currently have over 7billion people on the planet, & not once have I heard of any genius reaching Einstein's level, when in Einstein's time there were significantly less people. There is a huge gap between the morons & the intelligent in the world, with the morons leading by a large variable. Anyway, I digress. Even if the teenager was licensed to drive a car, but not licensed to drive a truck, that still doesn't give him the right to drive the truck. Driving a car & driving a truck are completely different scenarios.

[Tom]

I don't believe it.

The father fell asleep and told his son to take the rap.

[Apple1]

"His time/mileage Record of Duty Status wouldn't have been legit then, anyhow. How was he expecting to justify going over his daily driving hours?”

KW, just a cynical guess on my part...he would simply lie, and take his chances. A driver who directs his unlicensed, sixteen-year-old son to drive the rig while dad sleeps has probably lied or “fudged” his records before, and will do it again when he has the chance. I think he cares not about having his records legit. Instead of manning up and talking to the CHP, father and son hid in the bushes.

It would be interesting to know who owns the truck.

[Karen]

Even though it's not stated in the article, I hope the father is looking at child endangerment charges. He never should have put his son in that situation in the first place. However, I do note the possibility that he's taking the rap for his father.

[Couple of Einsteins]

@Eric & Dick - There is no way, shape, or form to argue that this guy is brillant, and I'm sure the two of you have every right to be called geniuses. Work on the population control proposal....

[richard]

As the economy worsens and people become more desperate we will see more stories of outlandish behavior as our quality of life starts dipping into 3rd world country standards.

[John]

His Brother people, not his father. Pay attention.

[phil a bole]

thank you, John

[KS2 Problema]

There should be serious economic consequences not just for the owner of the rig but also for the people hiring it.

This turned out relatively benignly.

But it could easily have been a scene of fiery carnage.

It's time to re-regulate the trucking industry -- and this time not let the trucking industry call all the shots.

[Stafford Williams]

I agree with Eric and Dick. Fewer morons would mean fewer Republicans.

[BEACHGIRLSC]

Seriously?