INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A Vero Beach driver was arrested Saturday after deputies said he allowed a 9-year-old girl to steer, causing a crash that damaged two vehicles and a house.

Durwood Owens, 56, of the 4400 block of 61st Court, was charged with felony child abuse, driving with a permanently suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, and misdemeanor driving with a suspended, revoked or cancelled license.

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He was being held at the Indian River County Jail Wednesday without bond.

Deputies responded just before 8 p.m. Saturday to the 1600 block of 17th Court Southwest, south of Vero Beach, in reference to a crash.

Owens' vehicle had struck a mailbox and two vehicles parked along the street, deputies said. One of the vehicles was pushed into a a nearby house.

After an investigation, deputies said the crash occurred when Owens had allowed a 9-year-old girl to sit on his lap and steer as he worked the pedals.

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The girl's mother was in the passenger seat, deputies said.

Owens later told deputies they were "just goofing around."

Eric Rogers is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Rogers at 772-978-2224 or eric.rogers@tcpalm.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricRogersFT.