A 41-year-old mother is facing charges after deputies claim she let her 11-year-old child drive to a local gas station, resulting in a crash into a concrete barrier.
Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 7-Eleven on Gordon Road in Riverview about 8:35 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
According to police, Carribean Myers let her 11-year-old autistic child to drive the vehicle from their home to the convenience store while she sat in the passenger seat.
When the child attempted to stop the vehicle at the store, he used the accelerator rather than the brake pedal, striking a concrete traffic barrier.
There were no casualties recorded, although both the vehicle and the structure were damaged.
During their inquiry, deputies discovered that Myers’ driver’s license had been invalid since July 13, 2026. Authorities also discovered that Myers previously allowed her teenage children to drive without a valid license.
“Putting an 11-year-old behind the wheel is reckless and could have ended in tragedy,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “This mother made a reckless decision, endangering her child and everyone around them. Parents have a responsibility to protect their children and not put them in circumstances that could cause them or someone else great harm. “We will hold anyone accountable who endangers a child.”
Myers was arrested and charged on accusations of child abuse and allowing an illegal minor to drive.
The sheriff’s office said the situation is still under investigation.
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