A 13-year-old boy was behind the wheel of a vehicle that crashed into a power pole in Fairfax County, Virginia, leaving the car toppled over on its side among trees and brush, according to photos released by police on X.
The crash left both the young driver and his 13-year-old passenger with minor injuries, and both were taken to a local hospital for treatment. According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the crash happened at around 7:18 a.m. on October 4 on the northbound ramp from Fairfax County Parkway to Pohick Road.
Police said the 13-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle before striking a power pole and crashing through a railing. The crash prompted the temporary closure of the ramp while crews repaired the damaged power pole. The roadway was reopened shortly before 11 a.m.
No other injuries were reported in connection with the crash.
Driver Charged
DC News Now reported that a preliminary investigation found that the vehicle belonged to the parents of the 13-year-old passenger.
The driver was detained and charged with driving without a license. In Virginia, the minimum age to obtain a driver’s license is 16, and because the driver is a minor, police have not released his identity.
Road Closure: Northbound ramp of Fairfax County Parkway to Pohick Road is closed due to a single-vehicle crash into a power pole. Officers determined a 13-year-old was driving the vehicle with another 13-year-old passenger. (1/2) https://t.co/gZBCSZ8uS6
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) October 4, 2026
The circumstances surrounding how the 13-year-old came to be driving the vehicle have not been fully detailed by authorities, and the incident remains under investigation.
The Fairfax County Police Department shared images from the scene on social media following the crash, showing the extent of the damage and the vehicle’s position beyond the roadway. Police have not reported any additional injuries resulting from the incident.
Local Witness Speaks Out
“It happened in my neighbor’s backyard just over here,” said a local resident, who lives near the crash scene, to DC News Now.
“And they (the boys) are very lucky that a tree stopped them from going all the way down the embankment and into the neighbor’s backyard.”
According to police, medics took the two boys to the hospital with minor injuries. “I just wonder if their parents were surprised about it as we were,” Clapsaddle said.
This comment, though not directly, has conjured a big debate on social media about whether their parents were aware their 13-year-old was driving the car. Many people have questioned how the teenager managed to get the keys and drive the vehicle without attracting his family’s attention.
Some X users called for stronger laws to prevent situations like this, while others simply expressed disbelief at the driver’s age.