When 8-year-old Zoe Wilson of Bedford, Ohio, woke up on the morning of Sept. 15 and decided to take her mother’s Nissan Rogue to Target, she likely had no idea her spontaneous adventure would capture national attention. Accompanied by the family dog, Zoe drove herself 10 miles to the store, unknowingly sparking a viral story that left many both amused and concerned.
Zoe’s mother, Tangie Wilson, only learned what had happened when Zoe’s older sister alerted her that both Zoe and the family car were missing. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Tangie expressed her disbelief over the event. “She’s never done anything like this before,” Tangie said, noting that Zoe had no driving experience beyond sitting on her grandfather’s lap as a toddler. “It just didn’t register that she had actually left with the dog.”
After realizing what had happened, Tangie immediately contacted the authorities, who quickly located Zoe at Target. Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s doorbell camera had captured Zoe pulling out of the driveway, and police later found her unharmed at the store. Reports initially suggested Zoe was found enjoying a frappuccino, a detail Tangie suspects may have been exaggerated for effect. “I think the officers made it look cute because they thought it was a joke,” she said. “But they were professional, even if they were smirking and laughing.”
While the family is still processing the whirlwind of attention, Tangie has managed to turn the incident into a learning experience for Zoe. She often reminds her daughter that just as she learned to drive a car that day, she can tackle other challenges, like math. “When she’s intimidated by something, I tell her, ‘Did you know how to drive a car before you drove the car?’” Tangie said. “‘You didn’t, but you learned.’”
Despite the unexpected fame and the flood of comments from the public, Tangie is trying to keep the focus on her daughter’s growth. “It’s been stressful, but we’re using this as a way to teach her,” she said. For Zoe, the incident has become a lighthearted lesson in facing the unknown—one that will likely stick with her for years to come.
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