8-year-old emerges from rest stop to find family gone
By Associated Press
Published June 12, 2003
COCOA - Eight-year-old Zach Pervis went to the restroom when his family made a gas station stop on their trip from Indiana to Vero Beach. When he came out, the others were gone. They had accidentally left him behind Tuesday.
The Pervis family was traveling in six vans on Interstate 95 to a relative's 50th wedding anniversary in Vero Beach. After the caravan had driven about 40 miles, Pervis' grandmother realized he was missing and called 911.
Meanwhile, Zach was sheltered by the gas station owner and turned over to sheriff's deputies.
After contact was made, Pervis was reunited with his family in Cocoa.
"It was a tearful and cheerful reunion," said Brevard County sheriff's Sgt. Vic DeSantis.
