A 100km joy-ride by a 10-year-old boy in his mother's car came to a stop only when he pulled up at a service station and had the keys wrestled from him.
Scott Rickit, who had never driven before, shocked other motorists by driving the Nissan Cefiro on State
Highway 3 between New Plymouth and Awakino after taking the keys and rolling the car out of a driveway so as not to be detected.
He then started the engine and went on a road trip, having learned to drive by watching his mother, the Taranaki Daily News reported.
During the December 20 joy-ride, Scott, who is only 1.3 metres tall, said he drove at 100km/h and overtook other vehicles.
"There were no oncoming cars, though," he said.
At one stage he said he noticed a van following closely so he stopped at the top of Mt Messenger to let the driver past, but was instead approached by him.
"I told him I don't talk to strangers, then I just planted my foot and he couldn't catch me."
Scott continued on until the Junction Service Station at Awakino, where he stopped for a break and was stopped from continuing by the manager, Julie Robertson.
Ms Robertson called 111 when she saw what was happening and managed to grab the keys off him.
A local police constable then turned up and found Scott sitting in the car.
Police then arranged for his mother to come and pick him up - something he said he felt was not necessary.
"I was going to come back anyway. You've got to eat, you've got to come back for something," he said.
His mother described him as a good boy.
"It is just when he goes and does silly things".
She was angry about the incident but relieved no one had been hurt.
- NZPA
