By Associated Press, 09/03/02

AKRON, Ohio -- An 8-year-old foster child clad only in pajamas stole a pickup truck and went on a 20-mile drive to visit his family, police said.

The boy, whose name was withheld, was finally stopped Sunday by a motorist who could barely see the youngster over the dashboard. She flashed her headlights and pursued him at up to 80 mph to get him to stop.

"At first, I thought it was a drunk driver, and as I got closer, I said, 'Either it's a midget or I'm crazy and that's a little boy,"' said Debbie Turner.

Turner said she got the boy to slow down by positioning her car in front of the pickup.

The boy told his aunt that he missed his family and wanted to leave his foster home in Twinsburg.

He apparently stole the pickup, which had the keys inside, from a lot at the Chrysler Corp. plant.

Police Capt. Paul Calvaruso said the boy was taken to the foster-care agency.