Florida runaway juvenile safely located in Sussex County, state police say

Bill Atkinson, The Progress-Index
·1 min read
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SUSSEX — A runaway juvenile from Florida is being rejoined with her family after state police said she hitched rides with tractor-trailer drivers from her home state into Virginia last weekend.

The unidentified 17-year-old reportedly went missing from her home Aug. 25 in Pasco County, Florida, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya. Tracking her social media, Anaya said, Florida authorities told VSP that she appeared to be riding with a truck driver Sunday night on Interstate 95 northbound from North Carolina into Virginia.

Around 11 p.m., troopers saw the truck pass the Emporia exit. After following for several miles, authorities were able to pull the rig over without incident in Sussex, about 20 miles south of Petersburg.

Anaya said the juvenile got out of the cab on her own after troopers asked the driver to step out.

After several minutes of investigation, Anaya said, the juvenile admitted she had hitched several rides with truckers from Florida trying to get into Tennessee. She also admitted to lying to the driver she was with about her name and age.

The truck driver, a 41-year-old man from Connecticut, was not charged with any crime and was released. Anaya said the girl was placed in protective custody until her guardian was able to come to Virginia and get her.

In an email, Anaya said because of an "impressive collaboration and coordination amongst police agencies and dispatchers," the girl was now safe.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Runaway teen from Florida found safe in Sussex County, Virginia