Boy, 8, crashes mom's car

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Police in New York state said an 8-year-old boy will not be charged after crashing his mother's car into a fence, a street sign and a fire hydrant.

Cheektowaga Police Capt. James Speyer said April Haynes called 911 shortly after 6 a.m. Monday and reported her 8-year-old son, Andrew Letts, was missing along with her car, The Buffalo News reported Tuesday.

Police said they discovered the car on the lawn of a nearby neighbor and the boy was uninjured. They said Andrew had driven the vehicle about a half mile from his home before turning around, and on the return trip he jumped a curb, kicked over a stop sign and collided with a fire hydrant before coming to rest on the lawn.

"There's really nothing we can charge him with because he's so young, but his mother's auto insurer will likely have some money to pay out for the damages he caused," Speyer said.

The boy's reasons for taking his mother's car for a drive were unclear Tuesday.

The Buffalo News said it was unable to reach Haynes for comment.