12-year-old driver rolls, wrecks car

GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 12-year-old boy was hospitalized with minor injuries after crashing a car in Grand Haven Township.

It happened just after noon Friday on 114th Avenue north of Lake Michigan Drive, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities were first alerted to the incident after receiving calls about a vehicle driving carelessly on southbound 144th Avneue near Lincoln Street. Callers said the vehicle went off the road several times and had near misses.

The Plymouth Breeze eventually went off the road about a half-mile north of Lake Michigan Drive and rolled over, landing on its roof.

The driver was 12-year-old Daniel Alvarez, who spoke to 24 Hour News 8 Friday with his father's permission.

"I went too fast. I didn't push the brake, then the car flipped," said Daniel.

He was wearing a seat belt, authorities say, and the car's air bag deployed properly.

Daniel had to be extricated from the vehicle by personnel from the Grand Haven Township Fire Department.

The car ended up next door to Diana Currier's house.

"It more or less just echoed through the house, and I knew it was bad from how loud it was," Currier told 24 Hour News 8. "It was that bad. The car didn't look like anybody would be alive."

But Daniel was taken to a hospital with only minor injuries and released Friday afternoon.

Daniel said he got behind the wheel when he was home alone after a half day at school. He was going, he told 24 Hour News 8, to see his mother at work. Daniel crashed only about 2.8 miles from his home.

Daniel's sister, Rocio, remembers driving up to the crash.

"I was almost about to burst into tears, but then he said he was okay," Rocio said.

"He always wanted to drive. But my mom never let him because he is not of age, and he just doesn't know how."

Daniel's sister said the incident should be a reminder of how dangerous joy-riding can be.

"First, they have to learn how to drive, and get their permit," she said.

The incident remains under investigation as authorities determine what charges may be applicable.