Nine-year-old leads police on chase

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- A 9-year-old boy is nursing facial injuries after allegedly leading law officers on a late-night chase around Pottawatomie County in his grandparents' pickup truck, authorities

Thursday, March 2nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- A 9-year-old boy is nursing facial injuries after allegedly leading law officers on a late-night chase around Pottawatomie County in his grandparents' pickup truck, authorities said.

The unidentified juvenile's trip began Wednesday near Maud. He allegedly drove through several yards, narrowly missing a propane tank, a fence and an oil well before turning onto northbound Oklahoma Highway 9A, said James Young, a resident who saw the boy behind the wheel of the truck.

Young climbed into his truck and followed the boy while his wife called 911. Maud police officer Brad Morgan caught up with the boy shortly thereafter, the officer said.

After reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph, the chase came to a stop when the boy ran a stop sign at the intersection of Oklahoma Highway 9 and Highway 9A and collided with another vehicle, Morgan said.

The boy was taken to Mission Hill Memorial Hospital with possible injuries to his lip and eye, Morgan said. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known. The driver of the truck was not injured, Morgan said.