DeKalb Man Arrested After Allowing Teen To Drive, Crash Car
SYCAMORE, Ill. (CBS) -- A 33-year-old DeKalb man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly allowing an underage relative to drive his car, which crashed and caused minor injuries to a 5-year-old.
WBBM's Mike Krauser reports police said it appears to be a driving lesson gone wrong.
According to Sycamore police, James R. Colpen allowed a 13-year-old female relative to drive his car. They were on DeKalb Avenue; Colpen was in the passenger's seat, and a 5-year-old was improperly secured in the back seat.
Sycamore Police Det. Rod Swartzendruber said the girl behind the wheel lost control of the vehicle as they were going through the intersection at Electric Park Drive, jumped a curb, and hit a parked car.
Witnesses called police as Colpen and the two children got out, not far from the kids' home, according to Swartzendruber.
Colpen allegedly told the kids to walk home, then sped off in an effort to find the car, but police found the children at the scene and spotted Colpen driving away.
He has been charged with obstructing justice, child endangerment, and several traffic violations.
The 5-year-old was taken to a local hospital, but was not seriously hurt.
