RIVERVIEW, Fla. — A Hillsborough County mother was taken into custody after law enforcement authorities determined she allowed her 11-year-old child to operate a motor vehicle, which ultimately resulted in a collision at a local convenience store on Sunday evening.
Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to calls regarding a vehicular crash at approximately 8:35 p.m. on August 16, 2026, at a 7-Eleven gas station located on Gordon Road in Riverview. Upon arrival, first responders discovered that a sport utility vehicle had struck a heavy concrete traffic barrier near the building's entrance. Investigators identified the driver as an 11-year-old child diagnosed with autism, who was operating the SUV under the direct supervision of the child's mother, 41-year-old Carribean Sabrirah Camilia Myers.
According to official law enforcement reports, Myers sat in the passenger seat as her child navigated the vehicle from their family residence to the retail location. The incident occurred when the juvenile driver attempted to bring the vehicle to a full stop near the storefront. Investigators stated that the child mistakenly depressed the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal, accelerating forward and impacting the concrete barrier.
While the crash caused structural damage to the 7-Eleven building and significant front-end damage to the family's SUV, authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants, store employees, or bystanders.
Sheriff Condemns "Reckless" Decision Following Nighttime Crash
Bodycam footage released by the sheriff's office captured the aftermath of the nighttime incident, showing deputies securing the scene and evaluating the structural impact on the storefront before taking Myers into custody.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister publicly criticized the mother's actions, emphasizing the severe safety hazards posed by allowing an unlicensed juvenile to navigate public roads.
“Putting an 11-year-old behind the wheel is reckless and could have ended in tragedy,” Sheriff Chronister said in an official statement. “This mother made a dangerous decision that put her child and everyone around them at risk.”
Sheriff Chronister further reinforced the legal and parental expectations regarding child welfare under Florida law.
“Parents have a responsibility to protect their children, not place them in situations that could get them or someone else seriously hurt,” Chronister added. “We will hold anyone accountable who puts a child in danger.”
Investigation Uncovers Pattern of Unlicensed Driving
During the on-scene investigation, deputies uncovered additional regulatory and legal violations surrounding Myers' driving record. Official records indicate that Myers had been operating without a valid Florida driver's license since July 13, 2026.
Further questioning and preliminary findings revealed a broader pattern of negligence. Deputies reported that Myers admitted to repeatedly permitting her underage, unlicensed children to operate motor vehicles on prior occasions.
Florida statutes explicitly prohibit motor vehicle owners or custodians from knowingly authorizing or permitting an unlicensed minor to drive on public roadways. Under state safety law, allowing an unqualified minor to operate a heavy vehicle exposes surrounding pedestrians and drivers to substantial bodily risk, elevating simple driving infractions to felony-level child endangerment when extreme negligence is established.
Criminal Charges and Court Proceedings
Following the preliminary investigation at the scene, deputies formally arrested Myers and transported her to the Falkenburg Road Jail in Hillsborough County early Monday morning. Online booking records show that she has been officially charged with:
- One count of Child Abuse (Third-Degree Felony under Florida law)
- One count of Permitting an Unauthorized Minor to Drive
The child abuse charge stems from the legal determination that placing a young child—particularly one with specialized developmental needs—in control of a high-power motor vehicle constitutes culpable negligence capable of causing significant physical harm.
Child protective authorities were notified of the incident to review the home environment and assess the welfare of the minors involved in accordance with standard county procedures.
What's Next
Myers remains held in local custody pending her initial bond hearing before a Hillsborough County judge. State prosecutors are reviewing the police reports and bodycam evidence to determine whether formal indictments or additional charges will be filed.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the physical damage at the Gordon Road 7-Eleven store is being assessed by insurance adjusters and commercial repair crews. Local law enforcement continues to urge residents to report instances of illegal driving and child endangerment to local authorities immediately.