9-year-old takes car on joyride, crashes into tree; babysitter charged, police say

CLOVER, S.C. — A 9- and 6-year-old took a car for a joyride through a Clover neighborhood and ended up crashing into a tree, police said.

Police said the children took the car Thursday from Mary Harmon, who was watching them while their mother was at work, and drove around the mobile home park on Mosteller Street. The street is a loop and they may have driven in circles, police said.

(Mary Harmon)

A neighbor said she passed the car while the 9-year-old was driving before it crashed into a tree.

Harmon never attempted to call police while she was looking for the two children, according to officers.

Police also said that after Harmon noticed the children and her car were gone, she took her roommate’s vehicle and ran an errand for 45 minutes. She didn’t tell anyone that the children and her car were missing, police said.

(Click PLAY to watch Harmon collapse in court, via the Herald in Rock Hill.) 

Harmon is charged with two counts of child neglect.

The children weren't hurt in the crash.

Channel 9 reporter Greg Suskin found out about the other charges Harmon faces and what she accused the children of doing. Watch his full report on Eyewitness News starting at 5 p.m. 

Cox Media Group