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CHP Says Teen Driver Was Fooling Around Before El Dorado Hills Crash

EL DORADO HILLS (CBS13) – A couple of teenagers walked away from an early morning crash in El Dorado Hills the CHP says was caused by the teen driver fooling around behind the wheel.

The two were in a silver Jeep on a straight section El Dorado Boulevard at around 5 a.m. Monday when the crash happened.

The driver, an 18-year-old male, apparently lost control of the SUV causing it to roll over onto its side. The boy and his 17-year-old female passenger were able to walk away from the crash.

While it was a misty morning, the CHP says it was not poor visibility or slick roads that caused the Jeep to overturn.

Investigators say the girl reached over and pulled the steering wheel.

"The driver thinks it's funny that the vehicle kind of spun a little bit because of the fog and now it's starting to rain so the roadway's wet," said a CHP officer Heitzmann. "He at that point turns the steering wheel left, right, left, right which is when he loses control."

The Jeep hit the center median, rolling across two lanes of oncoming traffic finally ending up on the southbound side on the shoulder.

"Young drivers gotta tell them hopefully learn something. This could have been devastating if there had been a head on collision or something like that," said Officer Heitzmann.

Fortunately, the teens were not seriously hurt. The driver did suffer a cut to his head.

CHP has not said whether it plans to cite the driver in this crash.

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